CSUN Economic and Social Impact Study
In addition to state-supported programs and services that CSU campuses offer, each CSU campus has the capacity to offer academic programs using self-support funding. This capacity allows CSUN to provide programs and services beyond those supported by state funding. CSUN has focused this capacity on developing and delivering programs that provide advanced professional education for midcareer professionals and programs and services for employers in Greater Los Angeles.
In addition to enrollment in its state-supported programs discussed earlier in this report, in 2014-2015 CSUN had more than 2,200 students matriculated in 11 CSUN master’s degree programs and one baccalaureate degree-completion program. Seven of these CSUN degree programs are also offered fully online to give working adults greater flexibility in scheduling. CSUN can work with employers to deliver these degree programs, as well as custom-designed executive education and training programs. These programs prepare the workforce to meet the challenges of the changing economy in a regional and global context. Six additional CSUN master’s degrees and one additional baccalaureate degree-completion program will be offered for midcareer professionals in the next two years.
These CSUN degree programs add to the region’s supply of well-prepared professionals in fields such as speech/language pathology, social work, public administration, the music industry, assistive technologies, human services, public health, behavioral clinical psychology and educational administration. They also add to the earnings of graduates over their career span, further contributing to the regional economy. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that individuals who complete a baccalaureate degree earn about a 32% higher salary than those with some college. Those who complete a master’s degree earn a further 17% more than those with a baccalaureate degree. Without the self-support programs offered by CSUN with scheduling, formats and support services designed to serve students with full-time employment, many in the region who need advanced education to elevate or redirect their careers would not have the opportunity to do so at a highly regarded public university. In addition, because these programs are thoughtfully designed, taught by CSUN’s own faculty and well supported, the on-time graduation rates at the master’s level seldom drops below 75% and often exceeds 90% (occasionally touching 100%). This level of student success adds to the value of these programs for students, their employers and, in turn, the regional economy.
Through its University Access Programs, CSUN provides access to individual courses in Winter Intersession, Summer Session, and on-campus course offerings in the fall semester and spring semester, on a space-available basis. This access allows working adults and their employers to target professional development to the needs of individual professionals who may, for example, need a solid background in Chinese history and culture prior to working in or with that nation, or who may need an advanced update in robotics, nanotechnology or new materials chemistry. In 2014-2015 CSUN had more than 16,600 registrations in University Access Programs.
CSUN also uses its self-support capacity to expand its international reach. In 2014-2015, through the Semester at CSUN Program, the university welcomed 261 international students who spent one or two semesters studying at CSUN. CSUN also had approximately 723 international students from more than 30 countries attending CSUN’s Intensive English Programs. Many of these international students apply to CSUN to earn their degrees. This helps CSUN provide all students with a rich exposure to global education and international students. The regional economy increasingly requires the hiring of those with solid academic preparation, an understanding of diversity and a readiness to work with teams across national lines in a global economy. CSUN is, in fact, often ranked No. 1 or 2 nationally among peer institutions for the number of international students enrolled in degree programs. The university’s international connections also make it an important partner for regional employers with a global reach. CSUN currently has 39 active partnership agreements with international institutions worldwide.
CSUN’s self-support capacity is administered through the university’s Tseng College: Graduate, International and Midcareer Education. It is the largest self-supporting academic college in the CSU, with approximately $40 million in yearly revenue and more than 38,000 total registrations in 2014-2015.