The California State University System (CSU) is key to California’s success as we move into the 21st century. Without a well-funded and

dynamic CSU producing top quality teachers, scientists, engineers, health care workers, computer specialists and communicators, California will be unable to provide the work force needed by government, business and industry. And, without a strong work force and a solid and growing economy, the state cannot prosper. That in turn hurts all publicly-supported institutions and services, including the CSU..

The CSU is California’s future. Did you know the California State University is the largest senior higher education system in the country with more than 344,000 students, 22 campuses and six off-site campuses? Did you know that more than 65,000 students earn degrees from the CSU each year? At CSU, the possibilities, like the facts, are endless.

• The CSU has the awesome responsibility of educating more than half of all Californians seeking university degrees. In fact, the CSU has awarded over 50% of all baccalaureate degrees in California since 1960 — more than 1.6 million degrees.

 
• The CSU offers students degrees in a broad array of disciplines — many of which are critical for the job market of the 21st century. Throughout the system, the CSU offers more than 1,400 different bachelor’s degree programs and about 500 master’s degrees in more than 200 subject areas including such high demand fields as engineering, technology, finance, international trade, health care, science, arts and entertainment, and communications.

 
• Since 1960, the CSU has bestowed some 300,000 master’s degrees and more than 360 joint doctorates.

 
• The CSU’s Extended University enables students from here in California and around the world to complete CSU courses and degree programs via television, the Internet and at convenient sites throughout the state. The Extended University, which serves as many as 417,000 students a year, offers all CSU campus degree programs and courses.

 
• The CSU educates more computer scientists and engineers than all other California universities and colleges combined.

 
• More than 35% of Lockheed Martin’s Space and Strategic Missiles sector employees are CSU alumni.

 
• The CSU prepares 60% of the teachers in California — and the state will need 250,000-300,000 new teachers in the next 10 years.

 
• More than 200 alumni, including 38 legislators (1997-1998 session), work in the Capitol.

 
• Fully 10% of California’s work force consists of CSU alumni.

 
• CSU pumps more than $6 billion into California’s Gross State Product each year, double CSU’s annual budget.

 
• CSU graduates will pay about $95,000 more in taxes over their lifetime than will residents without a college education.

 
• More adults than ever are returning to the CSU seeking new or additional degrees so they can compete more effectively in California’s changing work place. This has pushed the average age of all CSU students to 26.

 
• CSU students are among the most committed in California. Not only are CSU students carrying heavy academic loads, but most are also working their way through college. More than 70% of all CSU students are working 20 hours a week or more.

 
• The CSU has among the lowest mandatory fees in the country. California residents pay an average of just $1,872 in annual student fees (1998-1999) — about $1,600 below the California Postsecondary Education Commission’s (CPEC’s) comparison average.

 
• CSU also takes seriously its obligation to raise funds from the private sector to help maintain its margin of excellence. In fact, for the 1997-1998 fiscal year, the CSU campuses raised more than $200 million. In addition, the Council for Aid to Education’s 1996-97 fundraising report shows that among public masters institutions 10 CSU campuses ranked in the top 20 and six were in the top 10.