Sonoma State University

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50

Overall

In-State Tuition

A-List Ranking

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20

west Regional

In-State Tuition

A-List Ranking

Sonoma State University (also referred to
as SSU or Sonoma State), is a public
four-year university and one of twenty
three campuses in the California State
University (CSU) system. The school's main
campus is located in Rohnerk Park,
California about 50 miles north of San
Francisco. SSU offers over 65
undergraduate and graduate degrees and is
one of the smallest universities within
the CSU system.

With substantial involvement and support
from San Francisco State University,
Sonoma State College was established in
1960 as part of the California State
College system. In 1978 Sonoma State
College became Sonoma State University and
it was transitioned into the California
State University (CSU) system. The
University started offering four-year
college degrees in 1961. Today SSU offers
an extensive selection of both graduate
and undergraduate degree programs.

Academics

While Sonoma State is well-known for its
exceptional business, economics and
nursing programs, it is still considered a
liberal arts university. The most popular
subjects of study at Sonoma State are
business, psychology and and liberal arts.
The University operates on a
non-traditional semester system which
includes a short term in August known as
"intersession" and three more traditional
semesters for fall, spring and summer.

Academic Schools and Programs

Sonoma State University is composed of 65
individual departments and programs, which
in turn belong to one of the University's
seven academic schools. All seven schools
at Sonoma State offer both graduate and
undergraduate programs and many also offer
minors and doctorates.

Sonoma State’s schools include Arts and
Humanities, Business and Economics,
Education, Science and Technology,
Extended Education Certificate Programs,
Social Sciences Anthro Studies Center and
California Cultural Studies.

The following is a list of the academic
schools and special programs offered at
Sonoma State.

• School of Arts & Humanities
• School of Business & Economics
  • Wine Business Program
• School of Education
• School of Science & Technology
  • Galbreath Wildlands Preserve (provides
    research and educational
    programs in hydrology, geology,
    vegetation, vertebrates and
    climate)
  • Fairfield Osborn Preserve (provides
    research and educational
    programs in hydrology and
    ecology)
  • Sonoma State Observatory (provides
    research and education programs
    in astronomy)
• School of Extended Education
  Certificate Programs
  • EXCEL for Youth
  • Contract Credit Programs
  • Osher Lifelong Learning
    Institute (noncredit courses
    for adults over 50)
  • Bachelor of Art Degree
    Completion Program in Liberal
    Studies
  • Master of Art in
    Interdisciplinary Studies: Action
    for a Viable Future
  • Art Therapy
  • Organization Development Program
  • Depth Psychology
  • Master of Science in Computer
    and Engineering Science
  • Open University
  • Sonoma State American Language
    Institute
  • Master of Art in Spanish
  • Summer Session
• School of Social Sciences Anthro
  Studies Center
• Other Majors California Cultural
  Studies
  • Special Major in
    Interdisciplinary Studies
  • Special Major in Global Studies
  • Planning
• Other Minors
  • Minor in Women's Health
  • Women's and Gender Studies
  • Special Minor in
    Interdisciplinary Studies

  Athletics

  Known as the Seawolves, Sonoma State’s
  teams compete in the California Collegiate
  Athletic Association, which exists within
  the NCAA’s Division II. The school is best
  known for its strong soccer and baseball
  programs, with the latter considered
  particularly noteworthy.

  Financial Aid

  Sonoma State offers grants, scholarships,
  loans and fee-paying resources as means of
  helping students defray the cost of
  attendance. All applicants must complete
  the Free Application for Federal Student
  Aid.

  Library System

  The Jean and Charles Schulz Information
  Center opened in 2000. It is home to the
  university library, information
  technology, the Center for Distributed
  Learning, the Writing Center, the Faculty
  Center, the Center for Community
  Engagement and Charlie Brown’s Caf©. The
  property encompasses 215,000 square feet,
  with 50,000 feet of shelving.

  Student Housing

  Most first-time freshmen live in
  suite-type arrangements, with some
  apartments available. Living Learning
  Communities are also available for those
  who are interested. The suite and room
  types are Double Suite, Single Suite,
  Cabernet Apartments and Sauvignon
  Apartments.

  General Information

  Admission Office 1801 East Cotati Avenue Rohnert Park, CA 94928-3609 (707) 664-2778 Fax: (707) 664-2060 Contact: Gustavo Flores Director, Admissions

  Main Address 1801 East Cotati Avenue Rohnert Park, CA 94928-3609 (707) 664-2880 www.sonoma.edu

  Size Total undergrads: 7,709 First-time degree-seeking freshmen: 1,655 Degree-seeking undergrads: 7,709 Graduate enrollment: 1,212 Setting Suburban setting Large town (10,000 – 49,999) Commuter campus

  Degrees offered: Bachelor's Master's

  Admissions Information

  Application Fee College has an application fee: Yes Regular application fee: $55 Online application fee: $55

  Enrollment Rates Percent applicants admitted: 76% Percent students who return sophomore year: 74%

  Tuition & Fees

  Estimated Expenses for Academic Year	2008-'09	2009-'10	2010-'11	2011-'12	% change 2010-'12
  Tuition and fees	$3,946	$4,272	$5,290	$5,508	+4.12%
  Books and Supplies	$1,386	$1,656	$1,732	$1,704	-1.62%
  Living Arrangement – On Campus
  Room and Board	$9,730	$10,115	$10,418	$10,522	+1.00%
  Other	$3,672	$3,990	$4,110	$4,074	-0.88%
  Living Arrangement – Off Campus
  Room and Board	$10,710	$11,472	$11,970	$12,414	+3.71%
  Other	$3,798	$4,008	$4,128	$4,086	-1.02%
  Total Expenses	2008-'09	2009-'10	2010-'11	2011-'12	% change 2010-'12
  In-state On Campus	$18,734	$20,033	$21,550	$21,808	+1.20%
  In-state Off Campus	$19,840	$21,408	$23,120	$23,712	+2.56%
  In-state with Family	$5,332	$5,928	$7,022	$7,212	+2.71%

  Financial Aid

  Full-time Beginning Undergraduate Students
  Type of Aid	Students	Percent	Amount	Average Per Student
  All students financial aid	769	47%
  Grant or scholarship aid	478	29%	$3,082,597	$6,449
  – Federal grants	243	15%	$1,172,794	$4,826
  – Pell grants	243	15%	$884,266	$3,639
  – Other federal grants	233	14%	$288,528	$1,238
  State and local government grant or scholarships	354	22%	$762,304	$2,153
  Institutional scholarships or grants	320	20%	$1,147,499	$3,586
  Student loan financial aid	543	33%	$2,400,292	$4,420
  – Federal student loans	533	33%	$2,127,459	$3,991
  – Other student loans	28	2%	$272,833	$9,744

  All Degrees and Programs

  Program Completions for Most Recent Year	BA/BS	MA/MS	Doctor	AA/AS	CERT
  Grand Total of All Programs	1701	225	–	–	–
  Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies	28	–	–	–	–
  African-American/Black Studies	10	–	–	–	–
  Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/Chicano Studies	6	–	–	–	–
  Women's Studies	12	–	–	–	–
  Biological and Biomedical Sciences	53	7	–	–	–
  Biochemistry	8	–	–	–	–
  Biology/Biological Sciences, General	45	7	–	–	–
  Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services	355	25	–	–	–
  Business Administration and Management, General	355	25	–	–	–
  Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs	96	–	–	–	–
  Speech Communication and Rhetoric	96	–	–	–	–
  Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services	27	–	–	–	–
  Computer Science	27	–	–	–	–
  Education	–	69	–	–	–
  Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services	–	26	–	–	–
  Education, General	–	43	–	–	–
  Engineering	3	4	–	–	–
  Engineering Science	3	4	–	–	–
  English Language and Literature/Letters	75	8	–	–	–
  English Language and Literature, General	75	8	–	–	–
  Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	27	–	–	–	–
  French Language and Literature	3	–	–	–	–
  Spanish Language and Literature	24	–	–	–	–
  Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General	44	43	–	–	–
  Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse	44	43	–	–	–
  History	40	6	–	–	–
  History, General	40	6	–	–	–
  Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services	62	–	–	–	–
  Criminal Justice/Safety Studies	62	–	–	–	–
  Human Services, General	–	7	–	–	–
  Public Administration	–	7	–	–	–
  Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities	176	–	–	–	–
  Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies	176	–	–	–	–
  Mathematics and Statistics	18	–	–	–	–
  Applied Mathematics, General	1	–	–	–	–
  Mathematics, General	16	–	–	–	–
  Statistics, General	1	–	–	–	–
  Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General	–	23	–	–	–
  Cultural Resource Management and Policy Analysis	–	10	–	–	–
  Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other	–	13	–	–	–
  Natural Resources and Conservation	68	–	–	–	–
  Environmental Science	68	–	–	–	–
  Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies	96	4	–	–	–
  Health and Physical Education/Fitness, General	96	4	–	–	–
  Physical Sciences	15	–	–	–	–
  Chemistry, General	5	–	–	–	–
  Geology/Earth Science, General	4	–	–	–	–
  Physics, General	6	–	–	–	–
  Psychology	181	29	–	–	–
  Psychology, General	181	29	–	–	–
  Social Sciences	198	–	–	–	–
  Anthropology	24	–	–	–	–
  Economics, General	35	–	–	–	–
  Geography	6	–	–	–	–
  International Relations and Affairs	10	–	–	–	–
  Political Science and Government, General	34	–	–	–	–
  Sociology	89	–	–	–	–
  Visual and Performing Arts	92	–	–	–	–
  Art/Art Studies, General	15	–	–	–	–
  Drama and Dramatics/Theater Arts, General	21	–	–	–	–
  Fine/Studio Arts, General	33	–	–	–	–
  Music, General	23	–	–	–	–
  Work and Family Studies	47	–	–	–	–
  Human Development and Family Studies, General	47	–	–	–	–

  Above data represent
  first majors only.

  (-) Indicates that
  Indicates that program is not offered
  at this award level.

  Undergraduate Majors

  Area, Ethnic, Cultural, & Gender Studies African-American Studies B Hispanic-American Studies B Women's Studies B Arts, Visual & Performing Art History/Criticism/Conservation B Arts – General B Drama/Theater Arts B Fine/Studio Arts B Music – General B Biological & Biomedical Sciences Biochemistry B Biology B Business, Management, & Marketing Business Administration/Management B Communications & Journalism Communications/Rhetoric B Computer & Information Sciences Computer Programming – General B Computer Science B Engineering Computer Engineering – General B English Language & Literature English Language & Literature – General B Family & Consumer Sciences Human Development/Family Studies B Foreign Language & Literature French B German B Spanish B Health Professions & Clinical Sciences Nursing (RN) B History History – General B Liberal Arts & Sciences Liberal Arts & Sciences B Mathematics Mathematics – General B Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies Global Studies B Natural Resources & Conservation Environmental Studies B Natural Resources & Conservation – General B Philosophy & Religion Philosophy B Physical Sciences Chemistry B Geology B Physics B Psychology Psychology – General B Security & Protective Services Law Enforcement Administration B Social Sciences Anthropology B Economics B Geography B Political Science/Government B Sociology B

  Degree levels for each major are designated by the following letters: A = Associate degree B = Bachelor's degree C = Certificate or diploma

  *We do not guarantee
  the accuracy of information on
  this page. All information is
  subject to change. You should
  confirm all information with a
  college admissions officer.