Hires

Large

Default

Tablet Portait

Handheld Landscape

Handheld Portait

F A S T   F A C T S
Location | Rohnert Park
Population | 44,546
Enrollment | 5,784
Language | English
Calendar | Semester
Canada | Home & Host

Term Dates
Fall | 08/18-12/12
Spring | 01/26-05/22

Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, CA

       
#10 Public University in the Western Region
#3 Ranked for Most Amazing Campus Arts Center
#12 Best Housing in the Nation

About This Campus

Sonoma State University has a tradition of promoting intellectual, cognitive, social and personal growth, leadership opportunities, and technological proficiency, while offering its students a friendly, safe, and informal atmosphere on a beautiful campus setting. The faculty and staff provide collaborative relationships with students and an education that fosters ethical exploration, civic engagement, social responsibility, and global awareness combined with a solid foundation in an academic discipline. Many classes average fewer than 40 students, allowing close interaction between students and faculty. SSU has a commitment to educating students who have the ability to think critically and ethically. There is a strong move to develop a global perspective in much of the curriculum to prepare students for the needs of the 21st century. With 33% of the student body living on-campus in lovely apartment and residential style suites, it is one of the most residential campuses of the CSUs.

Location Information

Sonoma State University is 1 hour north of the San Francisco Bay Area and just 30 minutes from the beautiful Lost Coast. The closest city is Santa Rosa, population 177,586, located just 10 minutes from campus. Sonoma County represents the best of Northern California with more than 425 wineries, miles of rugged Pacific coastline, towering redwood forests, over 50 local craft breweries, farm-to-table dining, rivers, lakes, plus over 50 state and regional parks. https://www.sonomacounty.com/

Helpful Information

Sonoma State is an impacted campus and securing courses can be competitive. This is why we have been able to secure priority registration for incoming NSE students. As such, it is imperative that students follow instructions carefully and complete all required materials on time. SSU is a community-oriented campus, perfect for students looking to get involved, develop as leaders, and explore all Sonoma County and Northern California has to offer.
2025-2026 Chance of Placement
Host Payment |Open
Home Payment |Limited
Campus Availability & Deadlines
2026-2027 Chance of Placement
Host Payment |Open
Home Payment |Good
Understand Chances of Placement

Academics

Registration
  • Campus Catalog
  • When will I register? Before seniors
  • Syllabus Request for Course Pre-Approval: Contact Host Coordinator for assistance
Closed Programs
Chemistry, Nursing, Hutchins Program (Structured Liberal Studies Program), and all credential programs.

Limitations
Communications, Political Science, Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies, Psychology, Kinesiology, and Business/Wine Business are all high-demand majors, therefore access to courses may be limited and specific classes could be restricted. Students in these majors should have flexibility in the classes they wish to take. Students wishing to take upper-division Business classes must meet all of the Pre-Business course requirements: Introduction to Macroeconomics, Introduction to Microeconomics, Introduction to Finite Mathematics or Calculus, Business Statistics or Elementary Statistics or Statistics for Economics and Business, Legal Environment of Business, Financial Accounting, and Managerial Accounting. Students wishing to study Biology must have an advising meeting with a Biology adviser, (over the phone, internet, or other prior submitting course requests.)

Notable Academic Programs

  • Business - Something very special happens when humanist psychologists create a school of business and economics. It attracts a different kind of faculty that aren't just teachers, and aren't just researchers: it attracts faculty who are reachers. It nurtures educators, students, alumni and staff to teach, support, and learn well beyond their specific discipline. http://sbe.sonoma.edu/
  • Psychology - The SSU Psychology department was a pioneer in the field of Humanistic Psychology. The program has evolved to include contemporary topics such as health and wellness, mindfulness, ecopsychology, optimal development, and multi-cultural competence. http://web.sonoma.edu/psychology/home/history.html

Unique Academic Programs

  • Wine Business - Sonoma State offers a concentration in Wine Business Strategies as part of the undergraduate degree in Business Administration. The degree includes a pre-business program and a set of core course requirements that cover the basics of business operations. The concentration will provide an opportunity for a comprehensive education in wine production, operations, marketing and array of electives. Sonoma State is the first in the United States to offer an undergraduate degree (since 1998), an MBA (since 2008), and most recently an Executive MBA (since 2012) focused on the business of wine. http://www.sonoma.edu/sbe/wine-business-institute/
  • Holocaust and Genocide Studies - https://www.sonoma.edu/holocaust/history.html

Undergraduate Majors Open to NSE Students

Accounting, American Studies, Anthropology... ++ show all

Conditions

GPA and Other Academic Requirements
  • General Eligibility Requirements
  • No students accepted from NSE members within my own state
  • Students must meet the individual requirements for any courses they wish to take. It is often a requirement for students to be declared that or a related major. Upper-division classes often have lower-division class prerequisites.
Exchange Preferences
  • Full-year exchange Accepted
  • Single term exchange Accepted
Non-Native English Speakers
  • TOEFL: must have a score of 500.00 paper or 61.00 Internet
  • IELTS: must have a score of 6.00
Summer Exchange
  • Not available
International Students (Visa Students)
  • Will accept Home/Host Pay
Canadian Students - learn more
  • Will accept Home/Host Pay

Tuition / Finances

Figures per Semester are current as of 05/13/25

Finances Tuition and Fees Per Semester - Host Payment Students
  • Pay resident-rate tuition to your host campus. No tuition/fees are paid to your home campus
  • Estimated cost: $4531.
  • Figures are based on full-time enrollment.
Tuition and Fees - Home Payment Students
  • Pay regular tuition to your home campus. No tuition/fees are paid to your host campus.
Maximum Credit Hours Per Semester
  • Host Payment: 18
  • Home Payment: 18

Financial Aid for NSE Students
Regardless of Payment Plan, financial aid is awarded by and disbursed from your home campus.

Miscellaneous Fees - Per Semester

Purpose Amount Period Plan Status
Housing Deposit $300 Year Host & Home Optional
Parking Fee $142 Semester Host & Home Optional
SIRF Fee $2 Semester Host Optional
Course Fees / MaterialsVariesSemesterHost & HomeMandatory

Important Notes: For information on additional fees, such as class lab fees, visit this website: seawolfservices.sonoma.edu/fees/description

Room / Meals

Figures are current as of 05/13/25

On-Campus Housing Per Semester Notes About Housing
On-campus housing is required for all incoming NSE students due to limited, competitive, and costly off-campus housing. Housing contracts are signed for a full year. Students who are staying for only one semester must hand in the "Petition to Vacate" by November 15 to avoid a $250 fee. For on-campus housing information: housing.sonoma.edu

Meal Plans

Notes About Meal Plans
A description of the meal plans available is listed here: culinary.sonoma.edu/meal-plans

Health

Figures per Semester are current as of 05/13/25

Purpose Amount Period Plan Status
Health Insurance $500 Year Host Waiver Available

Important Notes about Health Insurance
Non-international students do not need to purchase health insurance. Health Insurance is only available, and required, for international students. A waiver is available for international students that have sufficient coverage. More information can be found here: https://international.sonoma.edu/international-students/health-insurance-and-healthcare

Exchange with Canada - Health Insurance
N/A

Requirements

All data in this document is the responsibility of the campus and has been provided by the campus NSE coordinator.
Welcome to NSE!
Select the campus you currently attend...
Start Here!
To see the correct schools, first select the campus you currently attend...
We use cookies on this site to personalize content and ads, provide social media features and analyze web traffic. By using this site, you are consenting for us to set cookies.