CSU students apply the knowledge gained in the classroom to find solutions to real-world problems through applied research and service learning. Under the guidance of world-renowned faculty who are experts in their fields, students develop leadership skills while benefiting their communities.
Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity
At the heart of the CSU mission lies a commitment to scholarly inquiry and creative production. What sets the CSU apart is its dedication to providing hands-on research opportunities where students partner directly with expert faculty members to tackle complex academic and artistic ventures. Through this approach, students move beyond theory to experiment with ideas, challenge existing limits and validate their own research questions.
Three annual student competitions—the CSU Student Research Competition, Sunstone CSU Startup Launch and Grad Slam—act as powerful catalysts for personal and professional growth, transforming academic work into real-world impact. These high-stakes platforms also sharpen students’ communication skills—whether they are distilling complex graduate theses into three-minute “slams” or pitching a scalable business model to venture capitalists—and foster a vibrant network of peers, mentors and industry experts, opening doors to career-defining connections. Participating students see themselves not just as learners, but as innovators and thought leaders capable of solving California’s most pressing challenges.
External Funding, Research Growth
The CSU’s research enterprise continues to expand, with extramural funding increasing by $324 million over the past five years. In 2023-24, CSU research expenditures reached $981 million, a $168 million increase from the previous year.
San Diego State holds the Carnegie R1 (Very High Research Activity) designation, eight CSUs hold the R2 (High Research Activity) classification, and 12 CSUs hold the new RCU (Research Colleges and Universities) designation announced in February 2025, reinforcing the system’s growing research prominence. In addition, 21 CSUs are federally recognized as Emerging Research Institutions.
Engagement in high-level scholarship also allows world-class educators in the CSU to better establish themselves as industry leaders and ensure that classroom material remains at the forefront of their fields. Faculty published more than 44,500 articles between 2020 and 2024, many of which were co-authored by students. In addition, 87% of 2024-25 bachelor’s degree recipients participated in research, creative activity or internships.
Federal agencies provide 61% of the CSU’s research funding, and state sources contribute 25%. Major federally sponsored research expenditures in 2023-24 included:
- $175 million from the Department of Health and Human Services
- $136 million from the Department of Education
- $86 million from the National Science Foundation
- $49 million from the Department of Agriculture
- $31 million from the Department of Defense
CSU Multi-Campus Collaborations
The CSU’s influence across California is further demonstrated by its 10 specialized multi-campus research collectives. These groups engage students through faculty-mentored experiences to explore a diverse range of subjects vital to the state’s prosperity, spanning fields from marine biology and arid ecology to advanced biotech and agricultural science.
Learn more about research at the CSU.
Community Engagement at the CSU
For nearly three decades, the CSU has connected students with meaningful opportunities to serve their local communities, preparing more than 1 million CSU graduates to become changemakers across California while improving graduation rates, addressing equity gaps and strengthening communities statewide.
During the 2024-25 academic year, campus centers for community engagement and service learning, in partnership with 1,213 faculty and 4,113 organizations:
- Enabled more than 63,000 CSU students to participate in academic community-engaged learning and hands-on community service experiences.
- Delivered 2,623 service-learning course sections to more than 41,500 students, generating more than 639,000 hours of coursework-connected community service.
- Supported more than 17,000 students in programs such as AmeriCorps, days of service, alternative breaks and other civic engagement opportunities—contributing an additional 1.8 million hours of direct service.
- Secured $25 million in private and public funding to advance community engagement, yielding a $25 return for every state dollar invested.
Learn more about the Center for Community Engagement.