California State University Fullerton

What California State University Fullerton does

California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) is a public university located in Fullerton, California, founded in 1957 and operating as the second-largest campus in the 23-campus California State University system. The university delivers undergraduate and graduate instruction across eight colleges — Arts, Business and Economics, Communications, Education, Engineering and Computer Science, Health and Human Development, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences and Mathematics — graduating more than 11,000 students annually into a 344,000+ alumni network. Its service footprint is concentrated in California, particularly Orange County, and includes the 26-acre Fullerton Arboretum, the Grand Central Art Center, and the planned 42,000-square-foot Engineering and Computer Science Innovation Hub opening in fall 2027.

CSUF's business model rests on three core revenue streams: tuition and mandatory student fees, state appropriations through the California State University system, and external grants and donations. Specific tuition pricing is not publicly disclosed in the input, but enrollment is delivered via direct admissions to the campus, supported by digital marketing, campus tours, and recruitment events. Grants and corporate philanthropy are increasingly material: Bank of America ($325,000, 2021), Orange County Business Council ($80,000, 2025), Google.org ($500,000, 2026), and the Johnny Carson Foundation ($2 million, 2026) together represent $2.9 million in recent external funding, supplemented by $67.5 million in state capital investment for the ECS Innovation Hub.

The university has built a portfolio of industry partnerships that function as talent pipelines and applied-learning infrastructure rather than as paying customer relationships. Decade-long engagement with Edwards Lifesciences has placed 100+ graduates at the company's Irvine headquarters; flagship 2026 inaugural cohorts include 19 students in the Amazon Guides program and 10 students in the Apple Next-Gen Innovators program. Technology capabilities are differentiated in select areas: the Lightwall AI art installation demonstrates multimodal computer-vision and generative AI running locally without cloud dependency, the NSA-designated cybersecurity program anchors defense-aligned curriculum, and the new ECS Innovation Hub will house dedicated cybersecurity, AI, drone, and bio/health labs. Recognition includes a No. 1-in-California, No. 3-nationally ranked Nurse Anesthesia Program (U.S. News) and 12 NCAA Division I national championships.

Name

California State University Fullerton

Legal name

California State University, Fullerton

Website

https://fullerton.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

CSUF is a public California State University campus in Fullerton, delivering undergraduate and graduate education across eight colleges, graduating 11,000+ students annually, and operating flagship employer partnerships with Amazon, Apple, and Edwards Lifesciences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems (EDAHAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools (EDAHAAAF), Public Research Universities with Major Extension & Outreach Missions (EDAHAAAG)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate degree programs
• University extension programs
• Student health services

Headquarters

HQ city

Fullerton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 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. Tuition and Fees: Revenue generated from student tuition and mandatory fees for enrollment in undergraduate and graduate programs.
2. State Funding: California State University system funding from state government appropriations for public higher education operations.
3. Grants and Donations: External funding from foundations, corporations, and government grants supporting specific programs and initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

California State University, Fullerton is a public university that delivers accredited undergraduate and graduate degree programs across eight colleges, including Engineering and Computer Science, Business and Economics, Health and Human Development, and the Arts. The university enrolls prospective students through direct admissions, supports them with services such as TitanMED student health care, career placement, and counseling, and conducts research, athletics, and community engagement programs. Specialized offerings include the nationally ranked Nurse Anesthesia Program, a cybersecurity education program designated by the NSA, and workforce training in semiconductor technology and AI literacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs Accredited bachelor's degree programs across eight colleges — Arts, Business and Economics, Communications, Education, Engineering and Computer Science, Health and Human Development, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences and Mathematics — for first-time freshmen and transfer students.
• Graduate Degree Programs Master's, doctoral, and credential programs across the eight colleges, including the nationally top-ranked Nurse Anesthesia Program and other professional specializations for working professionals and post-baccalaureate learners.
• Extension and Continuing Education Programs Continuing education and professional development programs for non-traditional learners through CSUF Extension, delivered online and on campus.
• TitanMED Student Health Services Basic medical care for currently enrolled CSUF students provided at no cost or significantly reduced cost through the Student Health fee, supporting student wellness and retention.
• PRISM AI Literacy Project AI literacy training program providing professional development in AI, data science, and ethical technology use for educators from transitional kindergarten through 12th grade, future teachers, university faculty, and credential students.
• Women in Computer Science and Engineering (WiCSE) Program Program supporting and increasing women's participation in computer science and engineering through scholarships, mentorship, and targeted enrollment pathways.
• Amazon Guides Mentorship Program (CSUF Cohort) Selective mentorship program pairing CSUF engineering and computer science students with Amazon engineers and scientists, providing one-on-one mentorship, career readiness resources, and industry exposure.
• Apple Next-Gen Innovators Program (CSUF Cohort) Eight-month selective mentorship program pairing CSUF students with Apple hardware engineering mentors through virtual sessions, technical workshops, and professional development activities.
• Semiconductor Workforce Training Program Workforce training program in semiconductor technology providing paid internships, research boot camps, and hands-on learning in chip design and entrepreneurship for undergraduates and high school students.
• Titans Athletics Program NCAA Division I Big West Conference athletic program with 12 national championships across seven different sports, providing student-athlete competition and campus engagement.
• Engineering and Computer Science Innovation Hub New $85 million, 42,000-square-foot, three-story facility with specialized labs in cybersecurity, AI, drone, and bio/health technology and a 120-seat multipurpose space, expected to open fall 2027 with capacity for projected 8,000+ Engineering and Computer Science students by 2028-29.
• Johnny Carson Endowed Fund for Jazz Endowed scholarship and professional development fund supporting students in CSUF's jazz and commercial music program through competitions, scholarships, and career preparation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 graduates employed at Edwards Lifesciences through partnership programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

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

• HiboyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 May 2026Hiboy, an e-scooter company, co-sponsored the Titan E-Scooter Safety Lab hosted by CSUF Police Department. The event provided hands-on safety training for students, faculty, and staff featuring obstacle courses, controlled braking instruction, and obstacle avoidance. Hiboy committed to supporting safe adoption of personal mobility devices through university partnerships.
• AmazonflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 April 202619 Cal State Fullerton engineering and computer science students selected for inaugural cohort of Amazon's Guides mentorship program. Students paired with Amazon engineers and scientists for career development, one-on-one mentorship, career readiness resources, and insights into Amazon's work culture. Part of Amazon's strategy to address workforce needs in AI, automation, and robotics.
• Edwards LifesciencesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2026Edwards Lifesciences and CSUF maintained a decade-long partnership through which over 100 CSUF graduates secured positions at the medical device company's Irvine headquarters. Engineering students participate in senior design projects focused on real-world products, with alumni crediting project involvement as key to landing employment.
• AppleflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 January 2026Apple selected 10 Cal State Fullerton engineering and computer science students for inaugural cohort of its Next-Gen Innovators mentorship program. The eight-month program pairs students with Apple hardware engineering mentors and includes virtual sessions, technical workshops, and professional development activities.
• Skyworks Solutions Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 December 2025Industry partner connecting students to the regional semiconductor ecosystem and career pathways through the workforce training program funded by OC Business Council grant.
• Microchip TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 December 2025Industry partner in the semiconductor workforce training program, providing students direct connections to the regional semiconductor ecosystem and career pathways.
• CEO Leadership Alliance of Orange CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 December 2025Partner organization connecting students to the regional semiconductor ecosystem and career pathways as part of the workforce training program.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• San Diego State University: SDSU is another large, comprehensive public university in the same California State University system, with comparable enrollment scale, Division I athletics (Mountain West Conference), and similar industry partnership dynamics in STEM and health sciences. Same system, same funding model, similar mission — the closest structural peer to CSUF.
• California State University, Long Beach: CSULB is the most direct geographic and demographic peer to CSUF in the CSU system, with overlapping engineering, business, and health programs, similar Orange County/LA workforce placement, and Big West Conference athletics. Same tuition regime, state funding model, and student population profile.
• California State Polytechnic University, Pomona: Cal Poly Pomona is the next-closest CSU system peer to CSUF by mission and geography (also in the Inland Empire / Orange County corridor), with strong applied STEM programs, workforce development partnerships, and similar scale. Direct peer for engineering enrollment and industry-partnership comparisons.
• San Jose State University: SJSU is the CSU system's tech-employment engine and the most direct peer for CSUF's engineering/CS workforce development strategy. Comparable in employer pipeline dynamics (Adobe, Apple, Google, Cisco) and STEM enrollment scale, though located in Silicon Valley rather than Orange County.
• California State University, Northridge: CSUN is a similarly sized urban CSU campus serving the Los Angeles metro with overlapping health, business, and engineering programs. Comparable student demographics, tuition structure, and Division I athletics footprint within the Big West Conference.

Broad incumbents

• University of California, Irvine: UC Irvine is the principal research-university incumbent adjacent to CSUF in Orange County. It competes for the same students, faculty, and industry grants at a higher prestige tier and absorbs a meaningful share of top local talent. A broader incumbent covering overlapping disciplines, particularly in life sciences, engineering, and computer science.
• Arizona State University: ASU is the premier national analog for a large, comprehensive public university pursuing aggressive tech- and AI-focused workforce partnerships at scale. While not California-based, it represents the leading public-university model CSUF is converging toward — innovation hubs, industry pipelines, and rapid workforce program expansion.
• University of Central Florida: UCF is a similarly large (40k+ enrollment) public research university with strong industry-partnership models (Lockheed Martin, defense/aerospace, healthcare) and robust workforce development programs. A national peer for scale, STEM pipeline strategy, and public-mission operating economics.

Regional players

• Chapman University: Chapman is a private nonprofit university in Orange County competing for the same regional student pool, particularly in business, communications, and health sciences. A regional peer for tuition-revenue and enrollment-share dynamics, though operating under a private non-profit funding model.

Others

• Edwards Lifesciences: Edwards Lifesciences is CSUF's flagship employer-partner, having hired 100+ CSUF graduates through a decade-long partnership involving senior design projects. Included as an 'OTHERS' peer because it represents the employer-customer side of CSUF's industry-pipeline model rather than an educational peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CSUFullerton
• Facebookfacebook.com/CSUFofficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/california-state-university-fullerton
• Instagraminstagram.com/csufofficial
• Xx.com/csuf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about California State University Fullerton