The magazine's May 8 issue is dedicated to rating the nation's universities and colleges on how well they serve Hispanic students.

"We are honored to be recognized for our efforts in serving a diverse community," said CSUN President Jolene Koester. "Cal State Northridge has a strong tradition and commitment to serving students from traditionally underrepresented communities. The diversity of our campus reflects the efforts we have made to ensure Northridge provides a quality educational experience for everyone."

Northridge ranked fifth in the nation among colleges and universities that award bachelor's degrees. Florida International University was first, followed by the University of Texas-Pan American, the University of Texas at San Antonio and Cal State Fullerton. CSUN also ranked 26th in the nation among those institutions that award master's degrees.

Hispanic Outlook also ranked CSUN second in the nation in awarding degrees to Hispanics in Hispanic studies, third in psychology and in the visual and performing arts, sixth in area studies and in communications, seventh in English literature and ninth in business and marketing.

The rankings are based on information provided by the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and are derived from data for the year 2005.

California State University, Northridge has 33,000 full- and part-time students and offers 63 bachelor's and 48 master's degrees as well as 28 education credential programs. Founded in 1958, CSUN is among the largest single-campus universities in the nation and the only four-year public university in the San Fernando Valley. The university serves as the intellectual, economic and cultural heart of the Valley and beyond.