•AVERAGE: 69
Sonoma State University is a public comprehensive institution located in Rohnert Park, California. One of the 10-plus campuses within the California State University system, Sonoma State University was signed into existence by Governor Edmund G. Brown in 1961. Six years after being established, the school moved to its current campus of 269 acres and in 1978 was granted university status. Located at the foot of the Sonoma Mountains, Sonoma State University is centrally located between the Pacific Ocean to the west and California’s wine country to the north and east; Sonoma State University’s campus is also only a one hour drive away from the vibrant city of San Francisco.
Academic Programs
Sonoma State University’s mission is to “prepare students to be learned persons who: have a foundation for life-long learning, have a broad cultural perspective, have a keen appreciation of intellectual and aesthetic achievements, will be active citizens and leaders in society, are capable of pursuing fulfilling careers in a changing world, and are concerned with contributing to the health and well-being of the world at large.” Sonoma State University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and has been so since 1969.Sonoma State University is made up of more than 35 academic departments and offers nearly 50 bachelor degree programs as well as over a dozen master’s degree programs and nearly twenty credential and certificate programs. The University’s top undergraduate majors (according to the number of students enrolled in each major) include Business, Psychology, Sociology, Liberal Studies, and Criminology and Criminal Justice. Sonoma State University’s guiding motto is: “Lux Mentis, Lux Orbis” (Light of the Mind, Light of the World).
Student Life
Sonoma State University has a total enrollment figure of nearly 9,500, including more than 8,500 undergraduate students with a male / female ratio of approximately 65% to 35%. As a residential college, Sonoma State University offers a variety of on-campus housing arrangements and has been nationally recognized by the Princeton Review for having “Dorms Like Palaces”. Sonoma State University’s housing goes “above and beyond” the typical dorm-room experience, providing suite-style living within its several residential villages. All of Sonoma State University’s suites and apartments are fully furnished and include their own living rooms and bathrooms. Approximately 90% of all freshmen students and nearly 40% of all undergraduates choose to live on campus.Sonoma State University boasts a variety of programs, student organizations, sports clubs, and social and cultural events for students to involve themselves in and enjoy. The University hosts hundreds of seminars, workshops, conferences, lectures, exhibits and other public programs which students may attend. As an NCAA Division II school, Sonoma State University’s intercollegiate athletic program is a member of the California Collegiate Athletic Association. In addition to its several varsity teams, Sonoma State University also offers a wide range of sports clubs and active intramural and recreational programs.