California State University, Los Angeles
California State University, Los Angeles is a public comprehensive university in Los Angeles serving 26,000+ students across 100+ undergraduate and 100+ graduate programs, generating revenue from tuition, state appropriations, and a diversified portfolio of foundation, corporate, and federal research grants.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1947
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What California State University, Los Angeles does
California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA) is a public comprehensive university founded in 1947, operating as part of the California State University system and headquartered at 5151 State University Drive in Los Angeles. The institution serves more than 26,000 students and holds an alumni base of over 250,000, offering approximately 100 undergraduate programs, more than 100 graduate-level master's, certificate, and credential programs, and four doctoral programs spanning business, arts, education, engineering, nursing, humanities, science, and criminal justice. The university is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and a CUMU anchor institution, and has been ranked #1 nationally and in California for upward mobility of graduates, alongside recognition from Washington Monthly, Money.com, Newsweek, and the Fulbright Program.
The university's specialized assets include the Hydrogen Research and Fueling Facility (supporting California's ZEV-by-2035 workforce training), the EcoCAR Innovation Challenge program (the only California university selected among 20 North American institutions competing in a four-year U.S. Department of Energy program with GM and Stellantis), an NSF-funded molecular simulation research partnership with Virginia Tech's MolSSI, the BioSpace bioscience incubator, and the Prison Graduation Initiative (PGI), which operates California's first in-person bachelor's degree program for incarcerated students across four state prison facilities and reports a 0% recidivism rate among paroled graduates. Cal State LA also operates distinct programs for student parents and international students requiring federal immigration compliance.
The business model is a public higher education revenue architecture combining recurring tuition and fees from CSU-priced undergraduate and graduate enrollment with state appropriations, foundation and corporate grants (notably a $48 million Ballmer Group grant over five years for youth mental health workforce training), and federal research funding from agencies including NSF, NASA, DOE, and the California Energy Commission. Go-to-market is sales-led direct admissions across freshman, transfer, and international pathways, supplemented by prison-site program delivery, online certificate offerings, and a content/newsroom-driven marketing presence. Leadership transitioned in January 2024 with the appointment of Dr. Berenecea Johnson Eanes as the ninth president and first woman in the role.
California State University, Los Angeles firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- California State University, Los Angeles
- Legal name
- California State University, Los Angeles
- Website
- https://calstatela.edu
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1947
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- California State University, Los Angeles is a public comprehensive university in Los Angeles serving 26,000+ students across 100+ undergraduate and 100+ graduate programs, generating revenue from tuition, state appropriations, and a diversified portfolio of foundation, corporate, and federal research grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
California State University, Los Angeles industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems (EDAHAAAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Online Divisions of Traditional Universities (Hybrid/Extension) (EDAHALAB)
Keywords
Where California State University, Los Angeles is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
California State University, Los Angeles business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: State-supported university with tuition-based revenue from undergraduate and graduate students across 100+ undergraduate programs, 100+ graduate-level programs, and four doctoral programs.
- Foundation Grants: Major grants from foundations including $48 million Ballmer Group grant over five years for youth mental health services, $100,000 Amgen Foundation grant for BioSpace incubator.
- Government Research Grants: Federal and state grants for research including $500,000 California Energy Commission for ZEV workforce training, $880,000 NSF for STEM diversity, $5 million NSF for urban sustainability hub, $375,000 NASA MOSAICS program, $265,000 Getty Foundation grant, $150,000 South Coast AQMD grant.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Standard undergraduate and graduate tuition |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
California State University, Los Angeles product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cal State LA is a public comprehensive university that delivers undergraduate and graduate education across approximately 100 undergraduate programs, over 100 graduate-level programs, and four doctoral programs spanning business, arts, education, engineering, nursing, humanities, science, and criminal justice. It supplements classroom education with specialized facilities and programs including a Hydrogen Research and Fueling Facility, the BioSpace bioscience incubator, an NSF-funded molecular simulation research program, and the Prison Graduation Initiative that delivers in-person bachelor's degrees at four California state prisons.
Product overview
Cal State LA is a public comprehensive university offering a unified portfolio of educational products and services. The core offerings include approximately 100 undergraduate programs and over 100 graduate-level programs (including master's, certificates, credentials, and four doctoral programs) spanning business, arts, education, engineering, nursing, humanities, science, and criminal justice. Supporting these academic programs are specialized modules including the BioSpace Incubator for bioscience entrepreneurship, the Hydrogen Research and Fueling Facility for zero-emission vehicle training, the NSF-funded PREC Pathway to Diversity Program for STEM research, and the Prison Graduation Initiative providing bachelor's degree access to incarcerated students. Recent additions include the DramaBox Microdrama Academic Course and the fully online Arts Management Certificate Program.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Undergraduate Programs
- Graduate Programs
- Prison Graduation Initiative (PGI)
- BioSpace Incubator
- Hydrogen Research and Fueling Facility
- Partnership for Research and Education in Chemistry (PREC) Pathway to Diversity Program
- Arts Management Certificate Program (Online)
- DramaBox Microdrama Academic Course
Quantifiable outcome
- Ranked #1 in the nation for upward mobility of graduates
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use California State University, Los Angeles
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
California State University, Los Angeles technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature4 records
California State University, Los Angeles partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.
- U.S. Department of EnergyflagshipSelected as one of 20 North American universities for the four-year EcoCAR Innovation Challenge managed by Argonne National Laboratory. Historic collaboration between General Motors and Stellantis.
- DramaBoxminorInnovative academic partnership to launch a groundbreaking microdrama academic course with leading global vertical microdrama platform.
- San Quentin Rehabilitation CenterflagshipFirst cohort at San Quentin scheduled to begin August 2026 as fourth prison location for PGI program.
- RockeTruckminorHosting first public demonstration of RockeTruck's hydrogen fuel cell-powered mobile generator at the Hydrogen Research and Fueling Facility.
- Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Nicholl Fellowships)minorSelected as partner for the Academy's Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting program.
- Molecular Software Sciences Institute (MolSSI) at Virginia TechcoreCollaboration with Virginia Tech's MolSSI for the Partnership for Research and Education in Chemistry (PREC) Pathway to Diversity Program.
- Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU)coreSelected as anchor institution for the Higher Education Anchor Mission Initiative, recognizing efforts to uplift and transform economies and social well-being of communities. Only LA-area university and one of two California institutions selected.
- The Democracy CollaborativecorePartnership through CUMU's Higher Education Anchor Mission Initiative to find solutions to pressing problems and help communities flourish, supported by Annie E. Casey Foundation.
- Pat Brown Institute for Public AffairscoreInternal institute working with Southeast Los Angeles Collaborative on civic engagement projects and the Civic University program developed in partnership with the mayor's office.
- Southeast Los Angeles CollaborativecoreCollaboration on civic engagement and community development projects through the Anchor Mission Initiative.
- Achieve LAcoreHigher education pathway program partnership to increase college access for local students.
- GO East LAcoreProgram that opens pathways to college and careers for local students in East Los Angeles.
- Community Arts Partnership LAcorePartnership bringing arts programming to youth in Los Angeles, including collaboration with Ballet Hispánico.
- California State Prison, Los Angeles County (Lancaster)flagshipCalifornia's first in-person bachelor's degree program for incarcerated students. PGI program has graduated 93 students with 0% recidivism rate among paroled graduates.
- California Institution for Women (Chino)flagshipExpanded Prison Graduation Initiative to women's facility for incarcerated students.
- California Institution for Men (Chino)flagshipExpanded Prison Graduation Initiative to men's facility for incarcerated students.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
California State University, Los Angeles competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- California State University, Long Beach: Cal State Long Beach is the closest CSU system peer: a similarly sized comprehensive public university in greater Los Angeles offering 100+ undergraduate and graduate programs, with strong engineering, business, and arts programs. Both compete for the same LA-area student pool and operate under identical CSU governance and funding model.
- California State University, Northridge: CSUN is another large LA-area CSU comprehensive university with a similar HSI designation, comparable enrollment (~38,000 students), and overlapping undergraduate/graduate program mix. It competes directly with Cal State LA for transfer students, faculty, and regional employer relationships.
- California State University, Fullerton: Cal State Fullerton is one of the largest CSU campuses and a direct system peer, sharing the same tuition structure, governance, and comprehensive public university mission. Notably, Cal State LA's current president previously served as VP for Student Affairs at CSU Fullerton, underscoring operational similarity.
- California State University, Dominguez Hills: CSUDH is a CSU peer located in Carson in the same South Bay/LA service area, also an HSI with a comparable undergraduate-focused comprehensive mission. It competes directly for local transfer students and community partnerships in southeast Los Angeles.
- San Francisco State University: SFSU is a comparable comprehensive CSU campus serving a large urban population with HSI-adjacent demographics, broad undergraduate/graduate program mix, and similar social mobility positioning. It is a strong functional peer though operating in a different regional market.
- San Jose State University: San Jose State is a CSU comprehensive university of similar scale (~33,000 students) with strong workforce-aligned programs in engineering, business, and health sciences, making it a peer for sponsored research scale and corporate partnership models.
Broad incumbents
- University of California, Los Angeles: UCLA is the dominant public research university in Los Angeles and the primary alternative for high-achieving LA students. While operating in a different tier (R1 research university with 100+ doctoral programs), UCLA competes for the same regional applicant pool and faculty.
- University of Southern California: USC is the major private research university in Los Angeles that competes with Cal State LA for LA students seeking research and professional programs, particularly in business, engineering, cinema, and social work — overlapping with several Cal State LA graduate offerings.
- California State University System (CSU): The CSU system is Cal State LA's parent organization and governing body, setting tuition, academic policy, and funding allocations. The 23-campus system collectively functions as a broader competitor/peer set for student recruitment and policy benchmarking.
Others
- California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office: California Community Colleges is the principal feeder pipeline into Cal State LA via transfer admissions. While not a competitor for enrolled students, it is the most strategically important partner/institutional peer because transfer volume directly drives Cal State LA's enrollment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
California State University, Los Angeles social profiles
Digital presenceCalifornia State University, Los Angeles compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
California State University, Los Angeles financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
California State University, Los Angeles leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
California State University, Los Angeles funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds7 records
Investors7 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
California State University, Los Angeles M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about California State University, Los Angeles
What does California State University, Los Angeles do?
Cal State LA is a public comprehensive university that delivers undergraduate and graduate education across approximately 100 undergraduate programs, over 100 graduate-level programs, and four doctoral programs spanning business, arts, education, engineering, nursing, humanities, science, and criminal justice. It supplements classroom education with specialized facilities and programs including a Hydrogen Research and Fueling Facility, the BioSpace bioscience incubator, an NSF-funded molecular simulation research program, and the Prison Graduation Initiative that delivers in-person bachelor's degrees at four California state prisons.
Is California State University, Los Angeles a public or private company?
California State University, Los Angeles is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was California State University, Los Angeles founded?
California State University, Los Angeles was founded in 1947. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is California State University, Los Angeles based?
California State University, Los Angeles is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does California State University, Los Angeles make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are foundation Grants and government Research Grants.
Who are California State University, Los Angeles's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are California State University, Long Beach, California State University, Northridge, California State University, Fullerton, California State University, Dominguez Hills, San Francisco State University and San Jose State University. Broad incumbents are University of California, Los Angeles, University of Southern California and California State University System (CSU). California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office is listed as an others.
Does California State University, Los Angeles have an API?
No public API is recorded for California State University, Los Angeles.
What industry is California State University, Los Angeles in?
California State University, Los Angeles's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAAAI, Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems, with a secondary code of EDAHALAB, Online Divisions of Traditional Universities (Hybrid/Extension). Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.