California State University, East Bay | Take a virtual tour with us!

California State University, East Bay | An overview

A part of the 23-campus California State University system, California State University East Bay is a public university located in Hayward, California. Offering 49 undergraduate and 30 postgraduate areas of study, the university enrolls more than 14,000 students every year!  

We spoke to some of these students to get an insight into CSU East Bay and find out what makes it unique. While some praised how diverse the classroom is, others talked about an incredible faculty and a sprawling campus. But here’s the one thing they all agreed on – CSU East Bay has some remarkable opportunities to offer. 

Why CSU East Bay?

When choosing a university, students usually look at a few factors, like rankings, acceptance rates, location, weather, and stop. But that’s not wise.

You should also check out the entire course curriculum, which electives you can pick from, and most importantly, learn about the university from the perspective of a current student.

Here’s what Yuchi Liao, a student of counseling said – ‘In this school, they provide a lot of internship opportunities with future collaborators. Also, I find they offer strong support for career development even after graduation.’ She also mentioned that CSU East Bay has “A good track in the counseling field.”

Another student, Xinchi Li, says ‘I chose California State University, East Bay because of its location so I could have opportunities to connect with people in the Bay area. Another good thing is that the university has a really good balance between the affordability and the quality of education.’

‘There are lots of on-campus internships and full-time opportunities for someone like me, who is a technical person interested in Business Analytics,’ says Kedar, adding that the second reason he chose CSU East Bay was the curriculum for its Masters in Business Analytics program.

Which CSU East Bay majors are you pursuing?

Kedar Patil, an international student from India, said that he is studying MS in Business Analytics at the university. ‘They teach us subjects like data mining, data warehousing, data science, and machine learning,’ he says, a smile spreading across his lips.

Then there’s Xinchi Li, who is studying Digital Communication and Media at CSU East Bay. ‘We’re learning UX/UI design, interaction design, and game development…I like game development the most, so I picked up some game projects to work on.’ Li’s eyes lit up. ‘That helped me learn a bunch of networking techniques.’

Yuchi, who can’t stop talking about how great her program is, says that she’s studying Masters of Science in School Counseling and Marriage & Family Therapy. ‘It’s the best counseling program in 2020. You have so many variants, including Clinical Counseling, School Psychology, and Marriage & Family Therapy.’ her eyes widen.

‘While working towards a degree, we’re learning to promote social justice and democracy by preparing to become counselors. The program is also committed to implementing school counseling programs that support students in the US.’

How did you make your profile stand out while applying?

Xinchi says, ‘The most important thing is to have at least one internship along with 2 really solid course projects before applying. This will help you talk about what you’re really good at.’

Liao adds ‘Your working experience will be very helpful in applying to universities in the US. Like I have had a very rich experience in the school environment, which I gained while I was teaching in Taiwan.’ She nods, ‘It also helps when you’ve studied a major relevant to your course of study.’

‘Don’t forget to highlight your skillset’ Li informs, adding that it will also help you when you’re looking for a job.

What are the top 3 things you like about the university?

‘The best thing about CSU East Bay?’ Li looks intently, ‘Is that you can connect with people from around the world and learn about different cultures from them.’ Yuchi adds ‘You can see people speaking Mandarin, Chinese, Japanese, Korean. There’s so much to learn on this campus!’

‘Plus, there’s the environment of the university – it looks like a park and you feel really convenient when you’re looking around in the campus.’ Li says.

‘Also, they have outstanding services to help students with career development. There’s actually an online tutor that can help you write assignments. In addition, there are other tutors that help you go through your assignments.’ Liao raises her chin ‘It’s very empowering for students.’

‘The faculty is very supportive. The classroom size is very small compared to other schools. We are just 20-25 people in a class and that gives us more opportunities to raise our own questions.’

Tell us about the California State University, East Bay campus life

‘The campus life on Easy Bay is fun’ Kedar grins. ‘There are two different cultural festivals every year. There’s one we celebrate to welcome the fall students. You can choose from a variety of cuisines and dance forms to grove to!’

‘For me, it’s the diversity of the students who come here from around the world. Their kindness and love make the campus feel like home.’ Li smiles shyly.

‘I usually drive my car to my school. But since the campus is so beautiful, I tend to take my own sweet time. Most of my memories are made in the cafeteria, where I work on my assignments, listen to music, and sip coffee,’ Liao sighs before continuing, ‘We also have the health and wellness center where I learn Yoga and Pilates. It’s so beautiful and pretty.’ her eyes sparkle.

How has the university supported you through the pandemic?

‘The university has done a lot to support us through these times. The move from studying on-campus to studying online was swift and smooth; that made us feel safe.’ Li explains.

‘I am so lucky to be studying at CSU East Bay. It’s amazing to see the faculty, the professors, the teachers, and how much they care about us.’ Xinchi nods.

‘They make sure I get all the equipment I need from school, so I can bring it back home. And that bridges the gap between studying in class and studying from home, which is really great.’

Where do you plan to take up your summer internship?

‘I already finished an internship in Martinez, California as a Business Analyst. I worked there for 7 months and it was a great experience,’ Kedar smiles.

‘Mmmm, I plan to take up a summer internship to be a school counselor at the university itself. I’m going to talk to international students about their academic performance and mental health.’ Xinchi says. ‘I’m really looking forward to the internship. It’s going to open new doors and is a great step for my career development.’

California State University, East Bay facts

So far, we have listed out some of the most important highlights about CSU East Bay and shared different students’ experiences. But there are a few factors you might be looking for which are important to consider. Like-

• Average CSU East Bay tuition: $17,622
• Average boarding: $18,000
• The student to faculty ratio: 23:1
• CSU East Bay acceptance rate: 71%
• Graduation rate: 79%
• Average salary: $51,133

Now, you have all the information you need about California State University, East Bay. And you will see that it has everything a student might need – great programs, incredible faculty, affordable education, a diverse student population, and an abundance of opportunities. If that doesn’t account for an appealing university prospect, I don’t know what does!

Key takeaways

• California State University, East Bay boasts a richly diverse student population, offering a unique opportunity for students to connect with peers from around the world, fostering mutual understanding and global perspectives.
• The university offers a myriad of courses, with an emphasis on both academic learning and real-world applications. Students frequently cite the vast internship opportunities and emphasis on career development as standout features.
• With a student to faculty ratio of 23:1, CSU East Bay offers small class sizes that promote individualized attention, leading to more effective learning and better student-faculty relationships.
• Beyond the aesthetics of a campus that resembles a park, CSU East Bay provides myriad support services, including dedicated tutors for assignments, health and wellness centers, and various cultural festivals, enhancing the overall student experience.
• Despite its modest tuition and boarding costs, the university delivers a high-quality education. It’s reflected in its acceptance and graduation rates and the average salary of its alumni, underscoring the value of an education from CSU East Bay.

If you have any questions about studying abroad, feel free to drop a comment or reach out to us!

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FAQs

Q1. What GPA is needed to get into California State University, East Bay?

Answer- The average GPA required for CSU is 3.69, weighted on a scale of 4.0. 

Q2. What is California State University, East Bay known for?

Answer- This university is known for many things, such as its personalized learning environment and award-winning programs. Students prefer this university for its popular courses in Business, Psychology, Health Sciences, Sociology, Art, etc. 

Q3. What is the cost of attendance for Cal State East Bay?

Answer- The estimated cost of attendance for undergraduate students is around $37,614. For graduate students, the cost of attendance comes around 36,672-45,121, based on the courses.