Of 611 masters' colleges and universities in the United States, California State University, Northridge ranked fifth overall in the number of graduates, 138, who went on to earn doctorates in science and engineering between 1996 and 2000.

"The report by the National Science Foundation confirms what we at Northridge know, that we have superior programs in engineering and the sciences," said Jolene Koester, president of California State University, Northridge. "Our graduates are making contributions in those fields in the region, across the country and around the world. It's nice to see our efforts recognized."

The National Science Foundation defines masters' institutions as those offering a full range of baccalaureate programs and graduate education through the master's level. Also among the top five institutions were sister CSU campuses San Luis Obispo (No. 1) and Long Beach (No. 3).

Broken down by specific majors, Cal State Northridge ranked third for the number of its graduates who went on to get doctorates in the sciences and ninth for the number of its graduates who went on to get doctorates in engineering.

CSUN's rankings in specific fields included: first in the numbers of its graduates going on to get doctorates in psychology, fifth in the social sciences and eighth in the biological sciences.

California State University, Northridge has more than 32,000 full- and part-time students and offers 59 bachelor's and 41 master's degrees as well as 28 education credential programs. Founded in 1958, it is the only four-year university in the San Fernando Valley and the fourth largest in the 23-campus CSU system. The Western Association of Schools and Colleges recently said CSUN "stands as a model to other public urban institutions of higher education."