Welcome to Cal State LA

At Cal State LA we provide transformative educational experiences through outstanding academic programs and renowned professors and researchers.

Founded in 1947, we are the premier public comprehensive university in the heart of Los Angeles. We have produced nationally and internationally recognized leaders in fields that include business and industry, visual and performing arts, athletics, science and technology, government, and higher education. At Cal State LA we are pushing boundaries, creating new opportunities for discovery and innovation.

The University is enjoying continued success. We opened Cal State LA Downtown, offering degree and certificate programs in a vibrant section of the city. Through our general education requirements, thousands of University students pursue civic and service learning in the communities we serve. We’ve established partnerships and programs that have improved and enriched lives across Southern California and beyond. We have been designated an anchor institution by the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities in recognition of our public service efforts. Our strategic plan is focused on student success, academic distinction, inclusion, and the public good.

A comprehensive study published in the New York Times ranks Cal State LA number one in the nation for the upward mobility of our students. Our university propels a higher percentage of students from the bottom fifth of income into the top fifth of income earners. This prestigious study was conducted by the Equality of Opportunity Project. It was featured in a video by Vox.

Cal State LA’s seven colleges are recognized for outstanding academic programs and small classes, where students are taught and mentored by professors who get to know them as exceptional individuals. We offer 57 undergraduate majors, 51 master's degree programs and four doctoral programs. We’ve been named by Washington Monthly as one of the top 10 master’s universities in the nation for our contributions to the public good. This exceptional honor recognizes our dedication to access and success, our campus commitment to public service, and research funding that involves faculty and students in world-changing projects. The National Science Foundation has listed our University as the top supplier of Latino science and engineering Ph.D. recipients among all undergraduate and master’s degree universities in the continental United States. We are a powerful engine of social mobility.

As the first in my family to graduate with a college degree, I am deeply committed to providing opportunities for our students to achieve academic, personal, and professional success. I also want to help our students develop a high regard for the intellectual and cultural diversity that distinguishes Cal State LA.

I invite you to explore our website, visit our University, and consider becoming part of the Cal State LA family.

William A. Covino, President