Sonoma State University Extended Education

What Sonoma State University Extended Education does

Sonoma State University Extended Education is the self-supporting continuing-education division of Sonoma State University, a public university within the 23-campus California State University system. Operating from the SSU campus in Rohnert Park, California, the unit delivers four principal programs: Open University (allowing non-admitted learners to enroll in SSU courses for credit on a space-available basis), Contract Credit (enabling external organizations to issue transcripted CEU or academic credit for their professional development courses and conferences), Special Sessions Classes (self-support courses outside the standard term, such as certificate offerings in specific disciplines), and Summer Session / Winter Intersession (intensive term offerings including three 4-week summer sessions and a 12-week session plus winter break courses). The unit also lists Professional Development Certificate programs, which are suspended as of the end of Spring 2025 pending further notice, and a BS Business Degree Completion Program currently in development.

The business is structured as a fee-for-service educational offering with no state general fund appropriations under CSU Executive Orders 1099 and 1102; all programs must recover their full cost from student fees. Pricing is unit-based: $385 per undergraduate lecture unit and $470 per graduate/laboratory unit in Open University; $80 per academic unit and $65–$160 per CEU tier in Contract Credit; and per-course fees in Special Sessions (for example, $770 and $890 for KIN 311 Fencing Pedagogy courses). Students register via online forms with instructor approval during add/drop windows, and enrollment in Open University can yield up to 24 units toward a bachelor's degree or 9 units toward a master's degree.

The target customer base is heterogeneous and includes non-matriculated members of the public seeking flexible course access or transferable credit, former SSU students attempting to return or raise GPA, working professionals pursuing re-licensure CEUs (nurses, counselors, psychologists, attorneys), international students on F-1, F-2, J-1, or Au Pair visas, and organizations that want transcripted credentials attached to their professional development offerings. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the extended.sonoma.edu website and email/phone, with a parallel B2B channel for Contract Credit proposals. The unit uses the university's Canvas learning management system and standard SSU student information systems; there is no proprietary technology platform, app, or API, and no AI/ML capability is disclosed.

Name

Sonoma State University Extended Education

Legal name

Sonoma State University Extended Education

Website

https://extended.sonoma.edu

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sonoma State University Extended Education is the self-supporting continuing-education division of SSU within the California State University system, offering Open University enrollment, Contract Credit CEU/academic transcripts for organizations, Special Sessions courses, and Summer/Winter Intersession to non-matriculated students, working professionals, and international learners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Continuing & Extended Higher Education Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Services (611), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA)

Keywords

• Continuing education
• Extended learning programs
• Professional development certificates
• Contract credit services
• Open university enrollment

Headquarters

HQ city

Rohnert Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Open University Academic Credit: Per-unit fees for undergraduate ($385/unit) and graduate ($470/unit) courses. Lab courses in Science, Technology, and Business are $470/unit. Students pay per unit and can earn up to 24 units toward a bachelor's degree or 9 units toward a master's degree.
2. Contract Credit Programs: CEU fees based on unit value (ranging from $65 for 0.1-0.5 CEU to $160 for 9.6-10.0 CEU). Academic credit courses charged at $80/unit. Student fees cover administrative costs of registration and transcripting only.
3. Special Sessions Classes: Self-support programs with per-course fees (e.g., KIN 311 courses at $770 and $890). No state general fund appropriations; fees collected to pay full cost of programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Sonoma State University Extended Education provides access to university-level courses and continuing education programs without formal admission. Core offerings include Open University (space-available enrollment for non-matriculated learners), Contract Credit (CEU/academic credit for organizational training programs), Special Sessions, Professional Development Certificates, and Summer/Winter Intersession courses, all taught by SSU faculty.

Product overview

Sonoma State University Extended Education provides a portfolio of educational access programs including Open University (allowing non-admitted students to enroll in courses for credit), Contract Credit (enabling organizations to offer transcripted academic credit or CEUs for professional development), Summer/Winter Intersession (intensive term offerings), Professional Development Certificate Programs, and Special Sessions Classes. The programs are designed to expand access to higher education for diverse learners including the general public, working professionals, disqualified students, and international students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Open University: Program allowing anyone to enroll in courses without being admitted to SSU, offering personal enrichment or college credit opportunities on a space-available basis.
• Contract Credit
• Special Sessions

Products and services

• Open University

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 24 units of Extension credit may be applied toward a baccalaureate degree; up to 9 units toward a Master's degree
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• University of Phoenix: Large for-profit institution focused on adult learners and continuing education. Addresses the same working professional and degree-completion market as SSU Extended Education but at significantly greater scale and with fully online delivery.

Direct peers

• UCLA Extension: Continuing education arm of UCLA, one of the largest university extension programs in the US. Offers Open Enrollment courses, certificate programs, and contract education, mirroring SSU's portfolio with significantly greater scale and brand reach.
• Stanford Continuing Studies: Stanford's continuing education program offering professional and personal enrichment courses for adult learners. Comparable mission and credit structure though operating from a private, higher-prestige institution.
• USC Continuing and Professional Education: USC's continuing education division offering professional certificates, extension courses, and corporate training. Comparable portfolio for working professionals though operating from a private institution.
• UC Berkeley Extension: UC Berkeley's continuing education division offering professional certificates, online courses, and contract education. Comparable in mission and product mix (credit and non-credit offerings for adult learners), with stronger academic brand.
• San Jose State University College of Professional and Global Education: CJSU's continuing education unit, fellow CSU campus offering Open University, certificate programs, and professional development. Directly comparable in regulatory framework (same CSU Executive Orders), pricing structure, and target segments.
• Cal Poly Extended Education: Cal Poly's continuing education division, also a CSU campus extension. Comparable offerings including Open University enrollment, professional development, and credit/non-credit programs for working professionals.
• UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education: UC Davis's continuing education unit offering certificates, professional development, and contract education. Comparable academic mission and program portfolio within the UC system.
• SDSU Global Campus: San Diego State University's continuing education division, part of the same CSU system. Offers Open University-style enrollment, professional development certificates, and contract credit with comparable structure, making it the closest peer within the CSU network.

Emerging players

• Coursera: Online learning platform partnering with universities to offer continuing education, certificates, and degree programs. Represents the digitally native, scalable alternative to campus-based extension programs like SSU Extended Education.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/ssu-exed

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Extended Education