Sonoma State University

What Sonoma State University does

Sonoma State University is a public, four-year institution and a constituent campus of the 22-campus California State University system, located on a 269-acre site in Rohnert Park, California. Founded in 1960 and opened to 274 students in 1961, SSU today enrolls students across three colleges — Education, Counseling, and Ethnic Studies; Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts; and Science, Technology, and Business — offering 75+ undergraduate, graduate, and credential programs. It serves a diversified student body including first-year, transfer, graduate, international, veteran, and Hispanic-Serving Institution populations, and supports a 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio with an 87,000+ alumni network.

The university's research portfolio is anchored in marine biology (Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank sanctuaries, gray whale mortality studies published in Frontiers in Marine Science), space science (a 3UCubed CubeSat built with UNH and Howard University for the NASA IMAP mission), and precision agriculture (a digital twin project at Iron Horse Vineyards using sensors, drones, AI, and San Diego Supercomputer Center resources). Its technology-adjacent infrastructure includes the Green Music Center, the Jean and Charles Schulz Information Center, Stevenson Hall (LEED Gold), the Wine Spectator Learning Center, and the Graton Rancheria Learning Center.

SSU's revenue model is a hybrid of California state appropriations, in-state and out-of-state tuition and mandatory fees, federal and state research grants (including a $7.9M U.S. Department of Education STEMCES grant), auxiliary services revenue through Sonoma State Enterprises Inc. (housing, dining, Green Music Center venue rentals), and charitable gifts via the SSU Foundation. Distribution is direct through the Rohnert Park campus, Extended Education online/summer programs, and regional degree-completion sites in Napa Valley/Solano and Ukiah, with structured transfer pathways from California community colleges.

Name

Sonoma State University

Legal name

Sonoma State University

Website

https://sonoma.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Sonoma State University is a public, four-year CSU campus in Rohnert Park, California, offering 75+ degree programs across three colleges to a diverse student body including first-year, transfer, graduate, international, and veteran students, with research strengths in marine biology, space science, and precision agriculture.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

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

University-Affiliated Pathway & Foundation Programs (EDAIAJAA)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Undergraduate programs
• Graduate degrees
• Public university
• STEM research

Headquarters

HQ city

Rohnert Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. State Appropriations: As part of the California State University system, SSU receives significant funding from the state of California to support educational operations, research initiatives, and student services.
2. Tuition and Fees: The university generates revenue through student tuition and mandatory fees based on residency status and enrollment intensity (part-time vs. full-time).
3. Research Grants and Contracts: SSU receives federal and state grants for sponsored research programs, including a $7.9 million STEMCES grant from the US Department of Education for science education expansion.
4. Auxiliary Services: Revenue from on-campus housing, dining services, the Green Music Center venue rentals, and other campus amenities operated by Sonoma State Enterprises Inc.
5. Gifts and Donations: The university receives charitable contributions through the SSU Foundation and University Advancement division, supporting scholarships, endowed chairs, and capital projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sonoma State University is a public university that delivers undergraduate and graduate degree programs across three academic colleges, plus continuing education, research programs, and on-campus student services including residential housing and the Green Music Center concert venue. The university also administers specialized programs such as the STEMCES STEM education expansion initiative and hosts academic conferences for undergraduate researchers.

Product overview

Sonoma State University is a public university within the California State University (CSU) system, offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs across three colleges: the College of Education, Counseling, and Ethnic Studies; the College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts; and the College of Science, Technology, and Business. The university also operates specialized programs including the STEMCES program for STEM education expansion and hosts the annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference. Campus facilities include the Donald and Maureen Green Music Center, a world-class performance venue. The institution serves as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and provides educational access, equity, and excellence through innovative programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Seawolf Living: Student lifestyle brand providing social content, campus event information, and community engagement through social media
• Seawolf Services
• Green Music Center
• Lobo's Pantry
• The Kitchens
• Noma Cares Central

Products and services

• College of Education, Counseling, and Ethnic Studies Academic college offering credential and degree programs that prepare students for careers in schools, communities, and human services, including teaching credentials, counseling programs, and ethnic studies, serving prospective and current students pursuing education-focused professional careers.
• College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts Academic college offering programs that develop critical thinking, communication, and creative problem-solving skills while exploring what it means to be human in a global society, serving undergraduate and graduate students in humanities and social sciences disciplines.
• College of Science, Technology, and Business Academic college offering programs that prepare students to innovate, collaborate, and lead with impact, spanning business, engineering, health sciences, and the natural world, for students pursuing STEM and business-oriented careers.
• STEMCES Program A STEM education expansion program that boosts science education for underrepresented middle school students and teachers in rural areas, implementing innovative curriculum and technology to improve science achievement and STEM competency among teachers in California and Texas.
• Green Music Center A world-class concert, recital, and educational facility that includes two performance venues (Weill Hall and Schroeder Hall), classrooms, ensemble and practice rooms, an executive conference center, and a restaurant, serving performing arts patrons, students, and event clients.
• West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference The 49th annual academic conference bringing together undergraduate scientists from universities across California and multiple other states to present original research in biology, biochemistry, and biophysics, with keynote presentations by SSU faculty.
• Extended Education Programs SSU division offering summer sessions, winter intersession, online courses, professional development, and continuing education programs for non-traditional students seeking flexible educational pathways outside the standard academic calendar.
• Regional Campus Programs (Napa Valley/Solano and Ukiah) Regional academic programs in Napa Valley/Solano and Ukiah that provide Liberal Studies degree completion options for students in rural North Bay communities who cannot relocate to the main Rohnert Park campus.

Quantifiable outcome

• #2 in CSU for two-year graduation rate for transfer students
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Kashia Band of Pomo IndianscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2026The Kashia Band of Pomo Indians participated in the discovery of 18 spiny sunflower sea stars off the Sonoma County coast. Indigenous knowledge and collaboration contributed to marine conservation research.
• Greater Farallones National Marine SanctuarycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2026Scientists from Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary participated in the discovery of sunflower sea stars, contributing to marine ecosystem research and conservation efforts.
• Cordell Bank National Marine SanctuarycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2026Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary collaborated with SSU researchers on marine species discovery and ocean conservation research.
• The Nature ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2026The Nature Conservancy participated in the discovery of spiny sunflower sea stars, contributing to conservation science and marine ecosystem restoration efforts.
• Frontiers in Marine Science (Journal)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 April 2026SSU researchers published a study in Frontiers in Marine Science documenting gray whale mortality patterns in San Francisco Bay, attributing deaths to climate change and human factors.
• Dr. Nathan Rank (SSU) and Dr. Elizabeth Dahlhoff (Santa Clara University)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 March 2026SSU's Dr. Nathan Rank and collaborator Dr. Elizabeth Dahlhoff of Santa Clara University serve as keynote speakers at the 49th annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference, emphasizing ecological and evolutionary physiology research and undergraduate mentorship.
• San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) at UC San DiegocoreTechnology or Integration · 12 January 2026SDSC supports precision agriculture research at Iron Horse Vineyards in Sonoma County, utilizing high-speed networks and computational resources. The project develops digital twins for vineyards using sensors, drones, AI, and real-time data analysis to optimize crop yields and sustainability.
• Iron Horse VineyardsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 January 2026Iron Horse Vineyards in Sonoma County partners with SSU and SDSC for precision agriculture research using sensors, drones, AI, and digital twin technology to improve farming efficiency and sustainability.
• University of New Hampshire (UNH)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 November 2025SSU undergraduate students collaborated with UNH and Howard University to design, build, and test a 3UCubed CubeSat satellite. The satellite launched on SpaceX Falcon 9 as part of NASA's IMAP mission to study solar wind and space weather. 70 undergraduate students across three universities spent five years on the project, gaining hands-on space science and engineering experience.
• Howard UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 November 2025Howard University partnered with SSU and UNH on the 3UCubed CubeSat project for NASA's IMAP mission. The collaboration provided interdisciplinary space science education across historically Black colleges and universities and the CSU system.
• NASAflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 November 2025NASA selected the SSU-UNH-Howard CubeSat for the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) mission. The satellite will study solar wind, atmospheric density, and electron precipitation to improve space weather forecasting and protect Earth technology.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• San Francisco State University: Campus within the same 22-campus CSU system, comparable in scale, urban-suburban setting, and diverse student demographics; both target similar first-year, transfer, and graduate populations in Northern California.
• San Jose State University: The flagship CSU in Silicon Valley; competes directly with SSU for the same Northern California applicant pool, with overlapping STEM, business, and graduate programs and similar tuition pricing.
• Cal Poly San Luis Obispo: CSU peer widely recognized for hands-on undergraduate education and learn-by-doing pedagogy; competes with SSU for STEM-minded California residents seeking a residential campus experience.
• California State University, Sacramento: Another CSU campus with comparable enrollment scale, regional draw, and undergraduate teaching mission; directly competes with SSU for transfer students from Northern California community colleges.
• Humboldt State University (Cal Poly Humboldt): Northern California CSU peer with similar focus on undergraduate research, environmental science, and marine biology; competes for the same regional applicants seeking a residential, nature-immersed college experience.
• California State University, Chico: Mid-size Northern California CSU campus with comparable residential, liberal-arts-oriented profile and similar transfer-student pathway strengths; competes for similar applicant demographics.
• California State University, Monterey Bay: CSU peer of similar size serving a California regional applicant pool, with HSI designation and STEM/health science focus that overlaps with SSU's program mix.

Broad incumbents

• UC Davis: Major public research university within an hour of SSU; competes for the same Northern California high school graduates with a stronger research brand, broader graduate programs, and higher national rankings.
• University of San Francisco: Private Catholic university in San Francisco competing with SSU for first-year and transfer students in the Bay Area; differentiated by private-tuition pricing and Jesuit mission but overlapping academic programs.

Regional players

• Santa Clara University: Private Bay Area university with overlapping undergraduate research and STEM programs; competing with SSU for academically strong California residents who can afford private tuition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/seawolfliving
• Facebookfacebook.com/sonomastateuniversity
• Instagraminstagram.com/seawolfliving
• Xx.com/ssu_1961
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sonoma-state-university

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sonoma State University