California State University, Fresno College Portrait
California State University, Fresno5241 N. Maple Ave. Fresno, CA 93740
(559) 278-2261
California State University, Fresno
California State University, Fresno is the premier regional university serving Central California's diverse, growing population. A Pulitzer Prize-winning faculty member, three "named" schools resulting from multimillion dollar gifts, and 13 endowed chairs are earning Fresno State a reputation as one of the West Coast's best universities. Service to our region is an important part of our mission. The prestigious Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching awarded Fresno State its Community Engagement Classification, acknowledging the university's extensive partnership with Central California. With an enrollment of more than 22,000 students, Fresno State offers 59 undergraduate degree programs and 44 master degree programs in the liberal arts and sciences as well as in a variety of professional disciplines emphasizing agriculture, business, engineering and technology, health and human services, and education. A doctorate in educational leadership also in available.
Living in the Community
The Fresno State Community
Under a dense canopy of 4,000 trees, the Fresno State campus sits against a backdrop of the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountain range and within two hours of three national parks - Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon. A new Student Recreation Center and a new Library join in the blend of traditional and modern buildings on the 383-acre main campus, which also includes a 1,011-acre University Farm. The Downing Planetarium is visited by thousands annually, and the Smittcamp Family Honors College admits 50 of California's top high school graduates each year with full scholarships. Fresno State student-athletes are top competitors in Division I sports.
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2010?
| Total Students | 20,932 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 17,937 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 10,222 | 57% |
| Men | 7,715 | 43% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 118 | 1% |
| Asian | 2,721 | 15% |
| African American / Black | 933 | 5% |
| Hispanic | 6,457 | 36% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 52 | <1% |
| White | 5,616 | 31% |
| Two or More Races | 374 | 2% |
| International | 479 | 3% |
| Race/Ethnicity Not Reported | 1,187 | 7% |
| Where do CSUFRESNO undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| California | 98% |
| Other US States & Territories | 1% |
| Other Countries | 1% |
| Residency Unknown | <1% |
| How old are CSUFRESNO undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 22 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 18% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2010)
New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores
Test(s) Required for Admission: SAT or ACT recommended
| Test Scores of Enrolled New Freshmen | ACT | SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Composite | 16 - 22 | |
| Math | 17 - 24 | 420 - 540 |
| English | 15 - 22 | |
| Critical Reading | 400 - 520 |
50% of admitted students have test scores within the ranges listed, 25% have scores above, and 25% have scores below.
| High School Background of Enrolled New Freshmen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Percent in top of graduating class Data Not Available | ||
| Average High School GPA (4-point scale) | 3.34 | |
| Percent who submitted High School GPA | 100% | |
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for 2009-10 without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $20,903
Out-of-State & Other Costs
The cost to attend California State University, Fresno varies based on the individual circumstances of students and may be reduced through grants and scholarships.
How much would I pay?
Financial Aid: How much help is there to pay?
Scholarships & Grants
- 51% of 2009-10 full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $9,318. Scholarships and grants are financial aid that does not need to be repaid and is sometimes referred to as gift aid.
Annual Need-Based Loans
- 30% of 2009-10 full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $4,228. Loans need to be repaid. Typically, repayment starts once you are no longer enrolled full-time. Please refer to page 12 of the Funding Education Beyond High School guide on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website for more information about Financial Need.
Percent of 2009-2010 Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.
CSUFRESNO Classes & Instructors
| Classroom Environment | |
|---|---|
| Students per Faculty | 24 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | 48% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | 90% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 637 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 40% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color | 28% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study | 94% |
Campus-based Housing
24% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
6% of all undergraduates live on campus
Campus Safety
The safety and security of 25,000 students, faculty and staff at Fresno State is the full-time responsibility of the University Police Department. A force of more than 50 provides protection of the campus itself, ensures the orderly flow of traffic and enforces parking regulations. UPD officers patrol near campus, where many students live, and works with other police agencies on enforcement and investigation.
Campus Crime Statistics
More Information
Carnegie Classification of Institutional Characteristics
The Carnegie Classification's were created "to reference the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and ... enable [people] to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions." For information on the Carnegie Classifications system, please visit their website: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/
- Basic Type
- Master's Colleges and Universities (larger programs)
- Size and Setting
- Large four-year, primarily nonresidential
- Enrollment Profile
- High undergraduate
- Undergraduate Profile
- Full-time four-year, inclusive
- Undergraduate Instructional Program
- Balanced arts & sciences/professions, high graduate coexistence
- Graduate Instructional Program
- Single doctoral (education)
NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.
More Information
Student Activities and Involvement at CSUFRESNO
Students who are actively involved in their own learning and development are more likely to be successful in college. Colleges and universities offer students a wide variety of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to become engaged with new ideas, people, and experiences. Institutions measure the effectiveness of these opportunities in a variety of ways to better understand what types of activities and programs students find the most helpful.
Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.
Group Learning Experiences
- 93% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 56% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 16% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 78% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 15% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 48% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 62% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 5% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 95% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 93% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 64% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 52% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
- 93% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations
Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff
- 46% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 72% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 93% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 67% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 62% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 84% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 58% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 76% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 79% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 80% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive
Evaluation of Experiences
Survey Administration Process
Survey Information
Majors and Degrees
| Degrees awarded at California State University, Fresno in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 3,455 |
| Master's | 904 |
| Doctoral | 26 |
| Total | 4,385 |
| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 18% |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 8% |
| Criminology | 7% |
| Psychology, General | 6% |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | 5% |
| Links to degree programs at California State University, Fresno |
|---|
Bachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral |
Future Plans of 2010-11 Bachelor's Degree Recipients
Survey Administration Process
Student Success & Progress Rate
A 86% four-year success and progress rate means that 86% of students starting in Fall 2004 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
Counts for the Fall 2004 entering class shown in the graph above.
- 2,243 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 1,353 Full-Time Transfer Students
Success & Progress Rate Table
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2009 that returned for their second year: 87%
Student Learning at California State University, Fresno
All colleges and universities use multiple approaches to measure student learning. Many of these are specific to particular disciplines, many are coordinated with accrediting agencies, and many are based on outcomes after students have graduated.
Fresno State is committed to the regular collection of data on student outcomes and uses the information to constantly improve our programs. Assessment takes place in the classroom and at the program and institutional levels. In addition to the university's accreditation review every 10 years by WASC, several programs are reviewed more frequently by their disciplinary accrediting organization. Internally, each academic program is formally reviewed every seven years. Programs develop and implement outcomes assessment plans on an ongoing basis. Every year, additional university and program-level outcomes assessment projects are funded through mini-grants. To assure that the necessary support exists for assessment activity, the office of Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning has been expanded.
Learning Assessment Examples
Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes
Colleges and universities participating in the College Portrait measure the typical improvement in students' abilities to think, reason, and write using one of three tests. This is part of a pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.
- Results from the Collegiate Learning Assessment
The Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA) measures critical thinking, analytic reasoning, problem solving, and written communication using a performance task and an analytic writing task. The scores from the tasks are reported separately below.
Test Administration Process
Test Information
Performance Task Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the performance task is what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 980
Senior Score: 1127
CLA score range: 400 to no maximum score.
Average EEA scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 881
Senior Score: 944
Analytic Writing Task Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the analytic writing task is well below what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 1064
Senior Score: 1131
CLA score range: 400 to no maximum score.
Average EEA scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 876
Senior Score: 941