The California State University Chancellor’s Office released its annual fact book, which includes information about the CSU’s funding, student costs and enrollment. According to the CSU system’s document, for every dollar the state invests into the system, the CSU returns $5.43. The CSU is the state’s leading producer of bachelor’s degrees, with approximately 100,000 graduates each year.
The Chancellor’s Office reported the CSU provides more than 150,000 jobs in California.
The CSU’s Fall 2012 enrollment was comprised of 31.3 percent Hispanic/Latinos, 31 percent Caucasians and 17 percent Asian/Pacific Islanders. Additionally, about 13 percent more female than male students enrolled.
San Diego State allocated the largest budget for the 2012-13 school year out of the 23 CSU campuses, according to the fact book.
SDSU’s general fund and student fees, as reported by the Chancellor’s Office, totaled more than $281 million for the 2012-13 school year. CSU Northridge had the second largest budget, with more than $278 million.
CSU Northridge had about 4,500 more students enrolled in 2012 than SDSU.
SDSU Budget and Finance Director Crystal Little said campus budgets depend on many factors, such as course fees and graduation fees.
“Some campuses choose not to charge for some things, while others do,” Little said.
She also explained that although each student pays individual fees, full-time, part-time or graduate/undergraduate students pay different prices.
“(SDSU) has a higher full-time equivalent student enrollment than Northridge,” Little said.
Certain aspects of student fees are unique to each campus. For example, the CSU Budget Office reported SDSU students paid $300 for health services during the 2012-13 school year, while CSU Long Beach students paid $90. However, CSU Long Beach students paid $336 for Student Body Center fees while SDSU students paid $286.
Little said one of the reasons SDSU has a larger budget is because its summer sessions tend to be larger than that of other campuses, meaning the university collects more student fees from these courses.
