CSU Sonoma State University

• Location: Rohnert Park, California, USA,
• Year of foundation: 1961,
• Number of students: about 6000,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type of study: mixed.

CSU Sonoma State University (SSU) is a public multidisciplinary university, part of the California State University system. It teaches more than 90 bachelor's degree programs, 19 master's degree majors, and teacher preparation courses.

The institution opened its doors in 1961, becoming part of the University of California. The educational institution has its own campus six years after its opening, and today SSU boasts a large-scale academic venue with modern facilities and a diverse infrastructure for study, sports and creativity.

Every year, the US university is listed in national and international rankings, earning high marks for the price-quality ratio of education, qualified teaching staff, and the diversity of nationalities among students.

Teaching is carried out on the basis of specialized colleges, which include schools of in-depth study of disciplines. Scientific directions of colleges:

• Education, Counseling, Ethnic Studies,
• Humanities, Social Sciences and Arts,
• Science, technology, business,
• Biology
• Kinesiology
• Additional education.

SSU residential buildings are assembled into five student campuses located near the academic area. Students can choose the room most suitable for their wishes: single, double or triple. Rooms that are important for a comfortable stay can be located on a floor, in a room or in a house, depending on the type of building. Basically, all rooms are presented in the form of apartments.

While staying in one of the residences, the student must arrange a meal plan with a certain number of meals per week, additional points for purchases in cafeterias. The main dining hall of the university is The Kitchens, offering an extensive selection of dishes, drinks, and snacks.

During extracurricular activities, students actively participate in a variety of leisure clubs, sightseeing and hiking trips, creative activities and sports competitions. Hobby clubs are an important leisure destination for many students, as they help them realize their potential with like-minded people.

The list of topics for which clubs have already been opened includes:

• Visual art,
• Anthropology,
• Criminology,
• Christianity,
• Finance,
• Music, playing musical instruments,
• Performing arts,
• Psychology, counseling,
• Board role-playing games,
• Cooking.

The University participates in interuniversity and regional sports competitions, providing members of national teams to improve their physical skills and earn scholarships.

The main and most sought-after sports directions are considered to be:

• Rock climbing,
• Horseback riding,
• Volleyball,
• Football,
• Lacrosse,
• Badminton,
• Baseball,
• Rowing,
• Scuba diving,
• Esports.

Throughout the year, dozens of themed events are held on the campus, in which members of creative teams participate. Whether it's Christmas, Easter, or graduation, students of theater and music become almost the main participants in the festive repertoire.

• No15 among the top public colleges, universities in the U.S. News & World Report rankings,
• No168 in the Forbes ranking among the 500 best private, public colleges and universities in the United States,
• More than a hundred higher education programs taught in six scientific faculties,
• No1 in the ranking of the best student housing according to Niche,
• 73% of students receive scholarships, financial aid,
• The most affordable university in the California State University system.

The SSU campus covers an area of 269 acres, located in the suburban area of Rohnert Park, Sonoma County. The university boasts dozens of specialized laboratories, computer and lecture halls, practice studios for various fields, and a 215,000-square-foot library. The sports infrastructure offers students a wide variety of indoor halls, outdoor fields and playgrounds for team, pair sports and individual training during studies in the USA.

SSU manages two off—campus studying sites, the Fairfield-Osborne and Galbreath Wildlands Reserves.

There are two semesters in the academic calendar:

• Autumn: August-December,
• Spring: January-May.

In the summer, there are classes in some programs, and internships.  Classes are organized on weekdays, rest — on weekends and holidays, during seasonal vacations.

An approximate list of additional expenses includes:

• Registration and administrative fees,
• Accommodation, meal plan,
• Contributions to student associations, payment for some extracurricular activities,
• Personal educational materials,
• Additional academic opportunities,
• Medical insurance,
• Personal expenses.

Applicants will have to fill out the registration form, provide documents and pay the entrance fee, after which they will be invited for an interview and tests. Based on the results of this stage, the admission committee makes a decision on the enrollment of candidates.

To date, SSU has completed the training of more than 84,000 specialists in various scientific fields. Many of them found work almost immediately after graduating from the program, while others successfully continued their academic path.

US Higher education programs will require foreign applicants:

• Personal documents: passport, medical insurance, visa or residence permit, financial certificates,
• Certificate of full secondary education / Bachelor's Degree / Master's Degree, depending on the program for which the candidate is enrolled,
• Language test results: TOEFL iBT (from 61), IELTS (from 6.0), PTE Academic (from 47) or a recognized equivalent.
• Letters of recommendation, professional experience, and individual achievements will be useful.

More than $2.5 million is allocated annually for scholarships and financial aid, thanks to which about 73% of students reduce tuition and other expenses. Scholarships are paid on the basis of academic and extracurricular achievements, and financial assistance is determined by preferential conditions, need.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision