Reviews

I am planning to major in Criminal Justice and minor in psychology and they have really good programs for both of them. The classes are small (about only 20-30) with some classes as big as 80. I like that the classes are small enough for me to get personal attention from the professers and I won't feel overwhelmed.

Being from a big city, I am already used to and accustomed to the city life. I like that Sonoma is part of a small, quiet community and different from the busy, bustling city. Because it is in wine country it smells like cow manure, but you will get used to it like I did. In addition to clubs and activities around school there is a lot to do outside such as bowling, lazer tag, shopping, etc. The housing is also really nice and the weather is usually sunny and warm. Oh, and you can have a car as freshman, a big plus.

College now a days in general is expensive, and Sonoma state costs roughly about $20,000-$21,000. If you try to get scholarships, grants, and apply for your FAFSA ahead of time, I'm sure you can get at least half of your tuition and fees paid off.

-I would try and check out the school and as many schools that you are interested in.
-Research your major/minor and programs and see if the school has a good reputation
-Keep your grades up!
-Always check your Sonoma State online portal to make sure you meet all the deadlines
-Make a pro/con list of each school you visit and make your decision for you.

The best part of Sonoma by far is the teaching staff. All of the professors are informative and accommodating; they are more than willing to meet with you outside class if you are having any sort of problems with the subject material. My largest class was an intro to psychology, and it was 80 students. All other classes have been 20-30, which really helps you form a bond with the professor.

This school has one of the most gorgeous campuses I have seen, the greenery is abundant and well cared for. The living accommodations are second to none in my opinion, and anything you could ever want is on the Rohnert Park Expressway.

The CSU system has been hit hard in recent times due to the economic turmoil in the state of California, but it is hard to beat a federally subsidized education. A comparable education at a private school would be at least double the cost.

Don't be afraid to talk to your professors, they don't bite! They are always willing to help you understand outside class, it is their job and they love to teach. Stay on top of your work as well, 5 lengthy deadlines quickly turns into 5 massive assignments the next week so spend your time wisely.

Students who enjoy small class sizes and speaking up during class, as well as students who enjoy having a personal relationship with their professors. You won't get away with missing a class, more often than not they will contact you in some may. My Education professor called me when I missed class due to illness!

As a music education major, I am taking six music classes my first semester. The teachers seemed to want me to get into the classes I need and sat down with my for over an hour, one-on-one, to help me get the education I need. I'm in 3 general education class. I have no problem getting classes and the teachers care about my education. They are very helpful at office hours. While they make learning easy, you have to do your fair share too.

The campus is beautiful. The buildings are new and made of reusable materials. The dorms are spacious. The food is great! I love the fresh air. The brand new music building is so nice. There are lots of things to do on campus. I am very happy here!

I wish the dorms cost less, but it is relatively cheaper than living off campus. The cost of education is cheap, but is high quality.

Take a tour, you will fall in love.

Looking for an education first, social life second.

Beautiful campus, amazing dorms, comfortable weather but kind of pricey.

The dorms here are the most spacious and well kept of all the CSU's. You will not find anything better in California (public schools anyway)

This CSU is one of the most expensive however that is because the area it is in. Very nice home-townish feel but you pay the price for it (about $20,000 in tuition alone)

This is the perfect place if you do not like hot weather and enjoy the rain, are looking for comfortable housing in an easy to navigate town, and not into urban areas, (a suburban kind of person).

Very safe campus because of the small town it is located in.

I love it.
I love it.
I love it.

You must visit here. I know a lot of people say it's hard to get classes at state Universities but I haven't had much trouble. The campus is amazing and they have private funding from the Charles M Schulz Foundation as well as Wine Spectator, so they are able to make the campus so much more than just by public funding. The facilities rival that of any private school (except no football team, but great soccer, lacrosse, baseball�) VISIT! You'll fall in love! It's a hidden gem in the CSU system.

I work hard but I'm not killing myself. I still have time to hang out with friends, stay up late, sleep in, and go to San Francisco now and then. There's so much to do no campus and nearby that you can't get bored. And the library is incredible. Lots of places to study outside of your suite too.

And speaking of dorms, there aren't traditional dorms but 4-bedroom suites / apartments with kitchens, living rooms, and four bathrooms per 6 students, clustered around a green quad. They are SWEET!

The Kitchens, our brand-new dining facility, is awesome. There are so many types of food, you can never get bored. It's fresh and healthy and locally-sourced too. You can grab a muffin and coffee or get Indian food, a plate of pasta, soup and salad. There's a chef's demo station, pizza and salad, a grill station, a garden station, there's Sizzle (Mongolian BBQ) and Passport (International cuisines).

Our Residential Student Association one of the tickets here. They sponsor hikes, day trips, and activities (theater, camping) in and around the Bay Area. They also create great opportunities on campus. And there are hundreds of clubs on campus. All you have to do is be willing to try something!

My final choice came down to SSU or a private school in Chicago. We won't even talk about the weather, but I am getting so much, for so much less! I can go to SSU for 2 1/2 years for one year of tuition at the other school, and I am getting a great education.

Two things we have that most others don't: a new world-class music center that hosts some of the greatest names in classical, pop, and rock music. And tickets for students are affordable.
The second is that we have a new grant from Wine Spectator to build a Wine Center on campus (of course, right in the heart of beautiful Sonoma Wine Country) for our Wine Business Degree. The only one in the country!

Students who want to love their college experience!

I've joined several clubs and made some great connections with friends. Clubs and activities are readily available at SSU because they want you to get an education AND try new things AND make lasting friendships AND have fun. Five stars all the way around.

I haven't participated but you can join in any semester.

Like many universities, we have a blue light system where you can ring someone up from one of the many kiosks on campus and they will be there in 30 seconds to escort you to your apartment. We have campus police right in the central area of campus, and a lot of open space. I have never felt unsafe here. I think all campus make their student safety a high priority, and SSU is no exception. One great thing is that we are near a big city but not in it, so you typically know that people who are on campus are supposed to be on campus.

Beautiful campus, diversity, perfect class sizes!

If you're a student that lives locally near Sonoma I'd suggest applying because I heard students who live in Sonoma County get preference and higher rate of acceptance!

I gave it five stars because I heard the classes are great, of course you have your occasional stressful final papers, but I heard classes aren't super stressful or rigorous.

I'm only a Junior in high school, but this summer thanks to 10,000 Degrees a college program I'm in I got to spend a week at Sonoma State in the new dorms. All I can say is WOW, they're by far the best college dorms I've seen, not to mention spacious!

At my week long stay at Sonoma State I must admit the food gets quite tiresome. Like I said I was only there for a week and in a mere week they were already repeating the same meals. I can't imagine eating there for four years lol. But for the money, I guess you can't really complain!

Sonoma State has been rated the top safety school in California this year!

Beautiful campus that is the perfect size - not too big and not too small. One of the things I love the most about SSU is seeing people I know whenever I'm walking to and from class or am just out and about, Many opportunities to get involved - there is something for everyone.

There is something for everyone so make sure to walk up to tables at Big Nite (our annual carnival type event on move-in weekend) and learn more about Greek life, sports, clubs, etc. to see what resonates with you. Pay attention to the times when there are the most people in the cafeteria (12pm and 5pm) and try to go before or after those times to avoid waiting in line for food. There are tons of free and inexpensive trips the school plans for each semester so make sure to look them up online and buy your tickets at the beginning of each semester before they sell out.

I've had a mix of both very easy professors and more strict professors so I would say that the amount of academic rigor varies. If you are taking a 1-3 unit class, you can expect the rigor to be less demanding, but if you take classes worth more units expect to put in more work.

I would describe SSU's residential community as apartment-style as opposed to "dorms" because they are much nicer than residence halls, as you can imagine. Definitely cozy and have homey vibes, which provide a great environment for relaxing at the end of the day or having friends over on Friday nights.

Cafeteria food can seem repetitive, but as a freshman living on campus with an unlimited meal plan you can't go wrong. Breakfast on weekends is the best and the fries are always good! If you're in the mood for non-cafeteria food, you're in luck because there are a few cafes and restaurants on campus where you can go grab a quick bite to eat between classes or go have a beer after a stressful day (if you're 21 of course).

SSU's campus is beautiful and taking walks around campus in the fall and in the spring never disappoint! Keep an eye out for plays, guest lecture series, bingo and karaoke nights, etc. because there is always something happening both during the week and on weekends.

During finals week, residents all come out of their suites at a designated time to scream, bang pots and pans, and really just make all the noise they want to unleash their stress and anger.

So many options! Sports clubs, social justice, gender equality, Disney, etc. are just a few of the types of clubs you will find at SSU. And if there is a club you don't see, grab a couple friends and make your own club!

Campus police patrol around campus from time to time to make sure everything is okay. They are more than willing to come pick you up from wherever you are late at night and escort you to where you want to be, which comes in handy for those night classes!

Sonoma State has a beautiful campus, excellent teachers, and an amazing environment for everyone to fit in. Just being on campus gives you a sense of pride and the students here are genuinely happy to be a Seawolf.

Don't be closed minded. Definitely go into college with the attitude of you're willing to try new things because opportunities may come up that you have never even thought of and it could turn out to be one of the the best thing that's happened to you.

Classes can be hard depending on the subject just like any school, but there are so many opportunities to get help when you need it such as talking to your professors or going to the tutoring center.

The dorms here are really nice and have a homey feel to them. You can request what dorm residence you want to be in, but they're all really nice. Different dorms have different aspects and that's what makes each one unique.

The food here at Sonoma Stats is really good! There are a bunch of different places to eat on campus and a lot of different options for people who are vegetarians, gluten free, allergic to nuts, etc. Sonoma State does an excellent job of providing food that tastes good but are still nutritional and healthy at the same time. Snacks are also always available with a wide selection to choose from.

Located in Rohnert Park there are a lot of activities to do. San Francisco isn't too far away if you prefer to spend your extra time in the hustle and bustle of a big city. If not, there's always the beach or river not located far from campus and the hiking trails are always near by. Local towns always provide entertainment with things to do in their towns. Also, Sonoma State always has organized activities that are going on on campus or concerts in our beautiful Green Music Center. No matter what you like to do, there's always something for you!

There are so many clubs and activities going on in campus there's almost always something to do!

If you are into Greek life there are so many different sororities and fraternities that you could join. Some are intended for people with specific interests, others are just open to whomever wants to join. All in all, you'll find a sorority or fraternity that fits you best.

Campus safety is a big deal here at Sonoma State. Campus police will patrol the area to make sure everything is alright and abiding by both the laws and the rules. Throughout campus there are police buttons that are there for your safety that will automatically call the police if you ever feel threatened or unsafe. Many precautions are taken to make sure nothing happens, and people are there to ensure the safety of each student.

Where many California State universities are large commuter school, Sonoma State provides a more intimate setting. Class sizes are small to average which allows for better teacher-student interaction and there are plenty of clubs and activities to join. Professors and faculty have been a great help in my academic success and they are always willing to sit and discuss any issues a students might have.

Use all the resources! Financial aid, office department staff, admissions office staff...they are all waiting and willing to help you earn admittance to SSU!

Of the professors I have encountered, they all expect you to learn. Professors expect a lot and are eager to push you academically.

The dorms are amazing! They are large in size, equipped with appliances and are located in a community area!

There are several food options located on campus that provide tasty meals in between classes. My only complaints would be that not all dining areas are open past four o'clock and there is a lack of ethnic foods available on campus. However, only a mile down the road there is a great supermarket with lots of delicious food!

There are loads of clubs and activity groups on campus. The recreation center provides dance and exercise classes, along with rock climbing walls and a heated outdoor pool. Outside of campus, there are state parks that are excellent for bike riding and hiking. The ocean is relatively close by. San Francisco is about one hour away.

Tuition is currently high, however that is a state issues, not the sole fault of SSU. However, the small campus feeling provides a huge, positive affect on the academic experience.

Sonoma State University is a great college for anyone looking for a close community and a liberal arts education. SSU is a fairly new campus, therefore the facilities are exceptional, such as the new Recreation Center and the currently under construction Student Union. Though small, the people on campus are very friendly and there are many opportunities to get involved socially, academically, and professionally.

Because Sonoma State is such a small school, it's very important to get involved as much as possible! Whether it be through Snow Club, joining a Fraternity/Sorority, or holding Student Government positions, a student's happiness at SSU solely revolves around on campus involvement.

Because class sizes are rather small, most classes require both attendance and participation. This forces students to become attentive both inside and outside the classroom.

Student living on campus is incredible! The 'worst' dorm is a suite consisting of two bedrooms, a full bathroom, and living room. There are no halls which allows for a much more private dorm life. Student on-campus residential buildings are very close-knit communities which helps bring an easy away-from-home transition to Freshmen.

The Cafeteria serves a very diverse menu of food ranging from Cereal to Salmon with Mango Salsa; however, always check the menu before you commit to eating there! Ameci's, Charlie Brown's, and The Pub are other dining venues on campus which offer a variety of foods such as pizza, sandwiches, and smoothies.

There are many different options for fun on campus! Activities range from Jello Wars to Greek Dances. Off campus, there is not much to do; however, most students prefer the activities happening on campus anyways because they are always fun and different from the last!

Sonoma State is a state university so it is fairly reasonably priced! Tuition is very cheap for the amazing classes offered! The housing options, both on campus and off campus, are decently priced as well keeping the overall cost of attendance very low and well worth it to attend SSU.

Something very unusual about Sonoma State is that in the middle of campus, there is a large statue of bacon and eggs!

Sonoma State is great for any student looking to get involved socially and/or academically!

Sonoma State University thrives on student involvement which is why there are so many amazing Clubs and activities! Clubs range anywhere from Vampire club to Rugby Club. Activities are always happening on campus thanks to Residential Student Association and other campus organizations.

Greek life at Sonoma is huge! Although there are no Greek houses, the fraternities and sororities are amazing! The Greek community is extremely close and always hosts wonderful events like dances, philanthropy events, and other fun things for students!

Sonoma State is a very safe school! Since it's rather small in size, campus police are always close and easy to get to! There are always Community Service Advisors that walk around campus at night time to ensure safety for students.