University Advancement

Public Relations and Strategic Communications

NEWS RELEASE

Cal State Northridge in Top 5 Universities in
Awarding Bachelor’s Degrees to Hispanic Students

(NORTHRIDGE, Calif., May 16, 2007) — For the second year in a row, Cal State Northridge ranked fifth among the nation’s universities for awarding bachelor’s degrees to Hispanic students, according to Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education.

The magazine’s annual ranking of the "Top 100" institutions for Hispanics, based on degrees awarded Latinos, appears in its May 7 issue.

"Cal State Northridge’s mission is to serve all the people of the greater Los Angeles area, and we have a responsibility to ensure our student population reflects the rich diversity of the region," said Northridge President Jolene Koester. "We are honored to be recognized for providing a quality educational experience for everyone, particularly Hispanics, one of the fastest growing community groups in the nation."

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 the University of Texas at El Paso. CSUN also ranked 25th in the nation in the number of master’s degrees it awarded Hispanics in 2006.

Hispanic Outlook based its rankings on information made available by the U. S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics for 2006.

The magazine also ranked Northridge third in the nation for bachelor’s degrees awarded to Hispanics in psychology, fourth for degrees awarded in Hispanic studies, sixth for degrees awarded in communications, seventh for degrees awarded in English literature and in the visual and performing arts, and ninth for degrees awarded in area studies.

California State University, Northridge has 34,500 full- and part-time students and offers 62 bachelor’s and 50 master’s degrees as well as 28 teaching 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.