University of California Student Association
The University of California Student Association is a Sacramento-based nonprofit coalition representing students across all nine University of California campuses. It delivers advocacy, legislative lobbying, direct-action campaigns, and annual conferences, funded by a systemwide student fee and donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersSacramento, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What University of California Student Association does
The University of California Student Association (UCSA) is a California-based nonprofit student advocacy coalition founded in 1971 and headquartered in Sacramento at 1107 9th St., Unit 711. It represents students across all nine University of California campuses (Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco, and Santa Barbara/Cruz) through a coalition model in which each campus's elected and appointed student leaders sit on the UCSA Student Board of Directors. UCSA delivers advocacy services across four program areas: University Advocacy (holding UC Regents and the UC President accountable), Legislative Advocacy (state lobbying in Sacramento and federal work in Washington D.C.), Direct Action campaigns (basic needs, diversity, voting rights, disability justice), and Annual Conferences (Student Organizing Summit, Students of Color Conference, Student Lobby Conference).
UCSA does not operate a proprietary technology platform, software product, or API. Its "products" are governance participation rights, advocacy campaigns, training resources, and convenings. Supporting infrastructure includes an Agenda Item Request (AIR) form, public governance documents (agendas, minutes, resolutions), systemwide committee descriptions, and a jointly-staffed Council on Student Fees (CSF) collaboration under a Memorandum of Understanding.
The business model is funded primarily through a UCSA systemwide student fee assessed to UC students and supplemented by voluntary donations collected through the Givelively platform. The organization maintains a paid staff of approximately 44, led by Executive Director Salih Muhammad. Strategic partners include AFSCME 3299, UC workers and unions, and the United States Student Association (USSA), where UCSA holds voting membership. Revenue, fee rates, and budget figures are not publicly disclosed in the source material.
University of California Student Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- University of California Student Association
- Legal name
- University of California Student Association
- Website
- https://ucsa.org
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The University of California Student Association is a Sacramento-based nonprofit coalition representing students across all nine University of California campuses. It delivers advocacy, legislative lobbying, direct-action campaigns, and annual conferences, funded by a systemwide student fee and donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
University of California Student Association industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education Student Advocacy
- NAICS
- Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Student Organizations & Club Administration (EDALAHAB)
Keywords
Where University of California Student Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sacramento
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
University of California Student Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- UCSA Student Fee: Revenue generated through a systemwide student fee assessed to UC students, supporting the organization's advocacy operations, staff, and programming.
- Donations: Voluntary donations from supporters collected through the Givelively platform, used to support UC student advocacy efforts.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
University of California Student Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
UCSA is a coalition of students and student governments that delivers a collective student voice across the nine-campus University of California system through advocacy and direct action. Its core offerings include University Advocacy (Regents and UC President accountability), Legislative Advocacy in Sacramento and Washington D.C., Direct Action campaigns on basic needs, diversity, voting rights, and disability justice, and Annual Conferences such as the Student Organizing Summit, Students of Color Conference, and Student Lobby Conference.
Product overview
The University of California Student Association (UCSA) is a coalition of students and student governments that provides advocacy services rather than a software product. UCSA offers a portfolio of student advocacy programs including University Advocacy (holding UC Regents and President accountable), Legislative Advocacy (state and federal policy), Direct Action campaigns (basic needs, diversity, voting rights, disability justice), and Annual Conferences (Student Organizing Summit, Students of Color Conference, Student Lobby Conference). Supporting tools include an Agenda Item Request (AIR) form, governance resources (agendas, minutes, resolutions), and the Council on Student Fees collaboration. UCSA does not offer a software platform, API, or technology product.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- University Advocacy Program Systemwide advocacy program that leads efforts for systemwide change by holding the UC Regents and UC President accountable through partnerships with UC workers and unions; designed for UC students and the broader UC community.
- Legislative Advocacy Program State and federal policy advocacy program that promotes legislation in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. benefiting current students, prospective students, and UC alumni.
- Direct Action Campaigns Systemwide organizing campaigns that expand access to basic needs, promote diversity and inclusion, protect voting rights, advance disability justice, and address other critical issues impacting UC students.
- Annual Statewide Conferences Signature convenings including the Student Organizing Summit, Students of Color Conference, and Student Lobby Conference that bring UC students together to learn, organize, and take action on shared advocacy priorities.
Companies that use University of California Student Association
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
University of California Student Association technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
University of California Student Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- UC Workers and UnionscoreUCSA partners with UC workers and unions to hold UC Regents and UC President accountable through shared advocacy campaigns and direct action organizing.
- Council on Student Fees (CSF)coreThrough a Memorandum of Understanding, UCSA and CSF share professional staff and logistical resources. CSF advocates for student fee transparency and accountability across the UC system.
- AFSCME 3299coreUCSA supports AFSCME 3299's contract fights and labor organizing efforts, with mutual advocacy on issues affecting UC workers and students.
- United States Student Association (USSA)majorUCSA voted to become a voting member of USSA to support national student advocacy efforts and connect local UC issues to broader higher education policy.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
University of California Student Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- United States Student Association (USSA): National coalition of student governments and student organizers. UCSA is a voting member of USSA, and both organizations share the model of convening campus groups to advocate on higher-education policy at federal and state levels.
- California State Student Association (CSSA): Systemwide student association representing students in the California State University (CSU) system. Mirrors UCSA's structure and mission at the CSU level, including student-fee advocacy, shared governance participation, and Sacramento lobbying.
- Council on Student Fees (CSF): Systemwide body of UC Student Fee Advisory Committees advocating for fee transparency and accountability. Operates under a shared-staff MoU with UCSA, with overlapping remit on student-fee governance.
Broad incumbents
- Campus Compact: National coalition of colleges and universities promoting civic and community engagement. Adjacent to UCSA's civic-engagement and advocacy work, but operates from the institutional rather than student side.
Emerging players
- ASUC (Associated Students of the University of California, Berkeley): The UC Berkeley student government, a primary UCSA member organization. Comparable as a campus-level student advocacy body, but operates at a single-campus scale rather than systemwide.
- Associated Students UCLA (ASUCLA): UCLA's recognized student government and a UCSA member organization. Similar advocacy and student-services mandate at a single UC campus; comparable as a UCSA coalition partner rather than a direct competitor.
- Roosevelt Institute: Student-driven policy and advocacy organization active on campuses nationally. Overlaps with UCSA on higher-education affordability, economic justice, and student-led policy research.
- Student Voice: National nonprofit supporting student representation on higher-ed governing boards. Comparable as a peer advocacy organization focused on amplifying student voice in institutional governance.
Regional players
- CALPIRG Students: California student-funded advocacy organization active across UC and CSU campuses. Competes for student-fee dollars and advocacy share on overlapping issue areas such as affordability and civic engagement.
Others
- AFSCME 3299: Labor union representing UC service and patient-care workers. UCSA partners with AFSCME 3299 on mutual advocacy; relevant as a coalition ally rather than a direct competitor in student advocacy.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
University of California Student Association social profiles
Digital presenceUniversity of California Student Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
University of California Student Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
University of California Student Association subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
University of California Student Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
University of California Student Association 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 University of California Student Association
What does University of California Student Association do?
UCSA is a coalition of students and student governments that delivers a collective student voice across the nine-campus University of California system through advocacy and direct action. Its core offerings include University Advocacy (Regents and UC President accountability), Legislative Advocacy in Sacramento and Washington D.C., Direct Action campaigns on basic needs, diversity, voting rights, and disability justice, and Annual Conferences such as the Student Organizing Summit, Students of Color Conference, and Student Lobby Conference.
Is University of California Student Association a public or private company?
University of California Student Association is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was University of California Student Association founded?
University of California Student Association was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is University of California Student Association based?
University of California Student Association is headquartered in Sacramento, United States, in the North America region.
How does University of California Student Association make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. UCSA Student Fee is the primary driver. The others are donations.
Who are University of California Student Association's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are United States Student Association (USSA), California State Student Association (CSSA) and Council on Student Fees (CSF). Campus Compact is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are ASUC (Associated Students of the University of California, Berkeley), Associated Students UCLA (ASUCLA), Roosevelt Institute and Student Voice. CALPIRG Students is listed as a regional player. AFSCME 3299 is listed as an others.
Does University of California Student Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for University of California Student Association.
What industry is University of California Student Association in?
University of California Student Association's product category is Higher Education Student Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDALAHAB, Student Organizations & Club Administration. Its NAICS code is 8133 and its SIC code is 8600.