Sonoma State University: Rankings, Courses, Admissions, Tuition Fee, Cost of Attendance & Scholarships

Sonoma State University currently has a total undergraduate enrollment of 8,032 students. The number of international students is 190, accounting for 2% of the total incoming freshmen population. The six schools exhibit 65 departments of the university. The university utilizes a semester based academic calendar.

The university is one of the top public universities in the USA and has a suburban setting. Also, it has been proved to have the highest graduation rate among transfer students in the CSU system and most promising place to work in Student Affairs, according to College Student Educators International.

The university is affiliated to California State University. The School of Business and Economics at Sonoma State University offers the nation's only program that focuses exclusively on the business side of the wine industry. To pursue education with the university, you will need around $19,000 annually.

Sonoma State University Rankings

Sonoma State University is a renowned California based public university and it has accomplished a lot of titles and rankings. it has received:

• #33 in Regional Universities West, by US News and World Report
• #48 in Top Performers in Social Mobility according to US News and World Report
• #14 in Top Public Schools by US News and World Report
• According to Niche, it has been recognized to have #17 in Best College Dorms of America and #68 most liberal colleges of America.

Sonoma State University Highlights

The following table sums up quick facts about the university:

Sonoma State University Courses

The international students can apply for the programs in the university. Within the university’s 36 academic departments, degrees are offered in 46 majors and 49 minors at the bachelor’s level and 15 at the master’s level.

There are nine credential programs and eight undergraduate and graduate certificate programs. The university also offers one of the only Wine Business Programs in the country. Some of the courses at the university with their application periods can be tabulated below:

Covid 19 update: Currently, it is the intention of the California State University (CSU) system and Sonoma State University to offer in-person classes for the Fall semester and admitted international students will be issued new I-20’s for that semester when appropriate. But for the spring semester, virtual/online is the only way students will get access to classes.

The School of Business and Economics of University of Sonoma offers a two year full time MBA residential program. There are pathway programs offered to freshers, transfer students. The university also offers guides for elementary teaching, secondary teaching and Teaching Special Education.

Sonoma State University Campus and Accomodation

The university campus houses six schools offering programs in 65 departments.Campus Recreation programs of the university offer many programs and services including inMotion group fitness classes, a variety of intramurals, climb the Rock wall etc.

• 120+ clubs and organizations and engages in hundreds of campus events each year.
• There is an intimate community where student interests are nurtured and excel in, and associated students provide programs and services to enhance the life of students.
• Sightseeing can be done at spots in the campus like Anne Frank tree, Holocaust Memorial, Butterfly Garden etc.
• The Fraternity and Sorority organizations of the university are very active and they are home to nearly 10% of the undergraduate body.
• There are multiple active gender specific sports clubs like: Baseball, Cheer, Dance, Equestrian, Rowing, Water Polo and more.

Sonoma State University Housing Facilities

Students can live on campus from August 1 to July 31 in the new housing available for the academic year. The housing options that are available on campus are: Beaujolais Village, Cabernet Village, Sauvignon Village, Tuscany Village, Verdot Village and Zinfandel Village.

• Beaujolais Village consists of four bedroom apartments where four individual people will have separate bedrooms, access to a full kitchen and a furnished living room.
• Cabernet Village has two bedrooms or one triple and one double occupancy bedroom each with their own bathroom. Each apartment has its own living room and kitchen.
• In Sauvignon Village, all apartments have four bedrooms. In Tuscany, six students will have access to 1,500 square feet of living space on two floors where each bedroom has its own bathroom.
• There are also off campus housing options available. Students live in houses, apartments, mobile homes, condos, townhouses, and trailers.

Housing Rates 

On campus housing is offered by the university and different types of rooms and accommodations are provided for the student as per needs. All first-year students living on campus are required to have an All Access Meal Plan. The housing rates for first year students for the academic year can be summarized as follows:

Sonoma State University Admission Process

Most of the courses in the university are dependent on the number and merit of applicants that year so a fixed GPA is not plausible. Sonoma State University offers priority to in-state freshman or transfer students in comparison with international students.

MBA applicants in recent years for Sonoma State University School of Business and Economics are required to have a GMAT score of 450 with at least 20% quantitative. Average IELTS and TOEFL scores of classes in recent years are also required to have a minimum of 6.5 and 80 for graduate programs.

How to apply?

Application portal: Cal State Apply

Application fee: 70 USD

Find more details on Sonoma State university admissions here.

Sonoma State University Common Application deadlines

The international student percentage is 2%. The applying candidates need to submit the documents and test scores to be considered for admission and then wait back to hear from the university to find out if they have been accepted into the university or not. Some common application deadlines followed by the university are as follows:

Sonoma State University Admission Requirements

The basic requirements for the undergraduate admission in the university are compiled below:

• All transcripts.
• Financial affidavit (certificate of Financial Support)
• A bank statement from you/or your sponsor
• LOR are optional and can or cannot be included. Standardized test scores like SAT or ACT are not essential for the admission procedure.
• Supplementary materials can be added but they are not mandatory.

The admission requirements for postgraduate courses in the university are:

• Students must have completed a bachelor’s in the required program from an institution to be considered for application.
• GRE or GMAT scores are to be submitted if required. A total GMAT score of 450 and at least 20% quantitative or a total GRE score of 300 and at least 150 quantitative are required.
• GPA of at least 2.50 on a 4.0 scale (equivalent to 77-79%).
• Financial certification is necessary to prove that the student has enough expenses to cover education and must submit all the documents.
• Graduate programs might have course specific admission requirements.

English Language Requirements

Below are the english language proficiency requirements for admission to the university:

Sonoma State University Cost of Attendance

Aspirants seeking enrollment in the university are encouraged to take a look at the estimated cost of studying and living in the US. The university tries to keep the costs minimum. Fees scheduled may need to be increased when public funding is inadequate. The overall costs for one academic year which an international student may need to keep in mind while applying for the university are tabulated below:

For MBA, additional 4,320 USD per unit is added to the base tuition fees in the graduate category. Graduate students applying for the Computer and Engineering Science, Psychology, Organization Development, Spanish, or EMBA programs will pay through the Extended Education.

Note: Rates are subject to change. If COVID-19 testing is required, an additional $200 may be assessed.

Sonoma State University Scholarships

International applicants are not eligible for financial aid offered by the institution. However, they can avail University based or External scholarships for easing the education expenses during their degree. To be eligible for the various scholarships, the outstanding students need to have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (equivalent to 83-86%). The scholarship program is primarily arranged to give recognition to students having excellent academic achievements and award them with the selected scholarships. Scholarship amount ranges from 500-5,000 USD per year. The following Scholarships are available:

• University Program Scholarships- This is a merit based scholarship which requires a single application to be availed. It consists of an online questionnaire and four short essays. It judges the applicant’s merit and checks if they are permitted for the scholarship. The application period for this scholarship begins on November 1 for the next academic year and the deadline to submit the required documents is February 1.
• CSU Future Scholars Scholarships- The scholarship is available for first generation needful students. It is renewable for up to four years and applications are available in the late spring/early summer. Excellent academic records with necessary documents are essential for this scholarship.
• Theatre Arts and Dance, Music Scholarships- The Theatre Arts and Dance and Music Department offer their own scholarship. They require academic details and other necessary documents to give away a scholarship to an aspirant. Also, a separate audition based on the student’s major is required for the same.
• Athletic Talent Awards- Each coach is responsible for making talent awards to athletes on their team. The candidate applying for the scholarship must have brilliant or notable achievements in any sport and the coach should be contacted to explore possible athletic talent scholarships.
• Departmental Scholarships- Students can also get scholarship access directly through the departments they are studying in through recommendations. The faculty is hugely responsible for this kind of scholarship as they grant the permission for the Departmental Scholarships.

How to apply for these scholarships?

• In order to be considered for a scholarship, applicants must be a student who has applied for admission for the academic year and is planning to attend SSU full-time.
• Applicants must submit a complete application by the deadline.
• LOR is not required.
• The candidate must be prepared to send in four separate statements/essays, regarding financial neediness and the candidate’s intellect and innovation.

The application period begins on November 1 of every year. Applications are submitted online and the entire package must be submitted by February 1.

Sonoma State University: Alumni Network 

The university Alumni Network presently has 72,000 alumni all over the world. Through the Student alumni network, freshman and alumni stay in touch and receive a lot of perspectives about college life. The following benefits are enjoyed by the alumni:

• Alumni receive a 10 % discount on Lifelong Learning and Excel Summer programs.
• The alumni get access to state-of-the-art libraries.
• Alumni membership privileges include discounted pool rates, benefits at the campus Recreation Center and its many features such as a climbing wall, 2-court gym, indoor running track, fitness room and much more.
• SSU Alumni Association members receive 10% off the regular price of single tickets for the Green Music Center MasterCard Performance Series.
• Members receive comprehensive coverage on home and auto insurance at competitive rates and with a significant group discount through the group savings program.

Notable alumni: Some of the notable alumni of the university are:

• Kevin Danaher- American author and anti globalization activist
• Larry Allen- Former professional football player
• Carole Midgen- Famous American politician
• Steven Zaillion- American screenwriter, director, film editor and producer.

Sonoma State University Placements

The university tries offering the maximum assistance required to get a job right after completion of the degree. By building connections/networking, a student will gain insight into different pathways.

The popular companies that hire graduates from the university are: The Vancouver Clinic, Kaiser Permanente, The Walt Disney Company, Nanosyn and Plaisware. The following jobs after graduation from SSU and their average salaries are as follows:

The university is inclined to provide students with attractive career placements. The quality of education, good acceptance rate and outstanding campus facilities are the major factors influencing the international students to study in the Sonoma State University.