While hundreds of thousands of California State University students opt for a “traditional" college experience, many pursue a different educational pathway, whether it's because they're caring for family, working full time, or simply live too far from campus. To meet the needs of those students, the CSU offers fully online degree programs.
Formats vary by program—synchronous or asynchronous; cohort-based or individualized; accelerated or otherwise—but the goal is the same: enable students from all walks of life to earn a life-changing degree that will help them advance their career.
These efforts reflect a broader commitment outlined in the CSU's
strategic plan to strengthen the university as a premier engine of economic mobility and workforce durability through flexible, technology-enhanced learning experiences that improve student success.
For students like Sean Jacobs, Julia Ulm, Elizabeth Lewis and Aliyah Prelow, that flexibility has been transformational, making it possible to pursue their education in ways that fit their lives.
Meet these online degree graduates from the CSU Class of 2026.
SEAN JACOBS | Chico STATE
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN SOCIOLOGY
Photo courtesy Chico State/Jason Halley A TikTok series from Chico State student Sean Jacobs chronicles how he found and nurtured an orphaned baby crow back to health before releasing it into the wild. It's a story of empathy that reflects his own journey.
Once homeless, struggling with addiction and a repeat offender in Southern California, Jacobs is now nearly six years sober. His path shifted when he enrolled in Chico State's
Sociology BA Online program, which allowed him to rebuild his future while staying rooted in his responsibilities at home.
An accomplished scholar, Jacobs is one of two recipients of the 2026 President's Academic Excellence Award, the university's highest honor for undergraduate students.
“My heart just leapt," he said when he found out he won. “I felt so seen."
He also earned the Sociology Outstanding Student Award and graduated summa cum laude in May. As a Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program recipient, he will begin San José State's online Master of Social Work program in the fall.
Jacobs' turning point came when an Alcoholics Anonymous member he had never met responded to a Facebook post and drove him to a detox center in Orange County.
“About 218 people I've known have either died of overdose, murder or suicide," he said. “I told myself, 'I can't do this anymore.'"
Now a certified drug and alcohol counselor, Jacobs is a single father raising two teenagers while also caring for his mother, who is living with dementia. Chico State's online program made it possible for him to pursue a degree while balancing those responsibilities.
“I needed to be able to study when I had the opportunity, because I'm pretty much the only adult in this household," he said.
While online learning presented challenges—including time management and fewer in-person interactions—Jacobs found strong support from Chico State faculty and staff.
“I could call the office, people answered, and they responded to my questions quickly," Jacobs said. “They were not just warm and welcoming—they were willing to participate, which made the experience so rewarding for a distance education student."
Faculty and campus leaders also made efforts to engage online students. Even university President Steve Perez occasionally joined meetings of the Online Sociological Association of Chico State, helping foster a sense of connection.
That sense of community extended to classmates. Jacobs formed a close friendship with fellow online student Arianne Duperron, a single mother in Grass Valley.
“We 'trauma bonded' in a difficult philosophy class," Duperron said.
When Jacobs presented his research at Chico State's Student Research Symposium, Duperron drove 75 miles to campus to support him.
“He has such a willingness and drive to learn new things," she said, adding that his compassion stands out most. “He's open about his past without letting it define him. He's an exemplary human being."
Looking ahead, Jacobs hopes to work as a telehealth therapist, deliver TED-style talks and help open community centers for people “slipping through the cracks"—bringing his education full circle through service to others.
“The best way to find yourself," he said, borrowing from Gandhi, “is to lose yourself in the service of others."
Sean Jacobs speaking at Chico State's Project Rebound graduation ceremony on May 15, 2026. (Photo courtesy Chico State/Jason Halley)
JULIA ULM | Cal STATE MONTEREY BAY
master OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION IN RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS
.jpg)
Staying close to her community was important to Julia Ulm, a fifth-generation Stocktonian, when looking for a master's degree program. Working full time at the
Port of Stockton in regulatory and public affairs, she needed a program that would meet her where she was—both professionally and geographically. Cal State Monterey Bay's
fully online MBA in responsible business offered the flexibility she needed to continue advancing her career while earning her degree.
Ulm completed the program in December 2025 while working full time, building on her earlier experience earning a bachelor's degree from Stanislaus State through a hybrid, cohort-based program. As a first-generation college graduate, she said the CSU's accessible pathways made it possible to pursue higher education without stepping away from her responsibilities. Her employer's tuition reimbursement program also played a key role, allowing her to focus on her studies and professional growth.
The structure of the online MBA program was designed with working adults like Ulm in mind. Students took one accelerated course every five weeks, moving through the program alongside a consistent cohort of peers. While the pace was demanding, Ulm credits CSUMB's support systems for helping her succeed. Professors were highly engaged and accessible, offering virtual office hours and meeting with students outside of class for guidance and career coaching.
“We would be texting each other constantly, and we met over Zoom once a week for class and throughout the week for group projects," Ulm said. “The college also had a lot of ways to make us feel connected."
The program's emphasis on applied learning also resonated with Ulm's career and passions. In one course, she worked with classmates as a consultant for a family-owned coffee farm in Panama, delivering real recommendations to improve the business. For her capstone project, she developed a business plan to support Stockton's Edible Schoolyard Project, helping expand access to fresh food in a community designated as a food desert.
“My project was to help them figure out a way to sell the produce and have more community impact," Ulm said. “Projects like these are concrete examples of how my coursework aligned with my personal and professional goals and passions."
Named CSUMB's 2026 Outstanding MBA Student of the Year, Ulm said the program has been key to her development as a professional. In her role at the Port of Stockton, she supports efforts to reduce emissions, including work to electrify cargo handling equipment, and helps lead community-focused initiatives such as cleanup events and fundraising efforts. She is especially proud of the port's service work in the Boggs Tract, a nearby historically underserved neighborhood; work that closely reflects the sustainability and equity principles emphasized in her coursework.
“What was really great about my CSUMB education is that it set me up on this career trajectory to become a leader," she said. “My job, my education … it's kind of like the stars aligned."
Julia Ulm (right) accepts Cal State Monterey Bay's 2026 Outstanding MBA Student of the Year award with CSUMB MBA Director Susan Harker.
ELIZABETH LEWIS | SAN JOSÉ STATE
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ANTHROPOLOGY
.jpg)
Elizabeth Lewis' path to earning a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from San José State was shaped by both early inspiration and the practical realities of balancing school, work and parenthood. Growing up, she was influenced by her father, a history teacher who introduced her to different cultures through music, food and community events.
“He taught me to love cultures, to love the things that make people who they are," Lewis said.
That foundation led her to anthropology and ultimately to a career goal of becoming an ethnic studies teacher at the K–12 level. Already working as a substitute teacher with transitional kindergarten and first-grade students, Lewis started exploring options for a four-year degree.
As a student parent, however, Lewis needed a program that would allow her to pursue her degree while remaining present for her young daughter. She chose SJSU's
fully online anthropology bachelor's program because it provided flexibility to balance her responsibilities at home with her academic and professional goals.
“That was the main reason I chose an online pathway, because I have a daughter," Lewis said. “She is my first responsibility, and it was important for me to be here [with her] as much as possible. When I attended junior college, I had a hybrid schedule. So, there would be times where I was on campus, and while I did enjoy it, it took time away from my child."
“When I found San José State Online, I knew it was perfect," she continued. “All of my classes were fully asynchronous, which allowed me to really go at my own pace. That was helpful with both parenting and working."
That flexibility was essential to her success, enabling her to stay engaged in her studies while prioritizing her daughter. At the same time, Lewis emphasized that succeeding in an online environment requires discipline and commitment.
“You have to be willing and motivated," she said. “It is very easy to procrastinate, so you have to be passionate about what you're learning."
Beyond her coursework, Lewis played an active role in building community within the program. As an online student ambassador, she helped connect students through virtual orientations, events and communication platforms designed to foster engagement and support.
“I've been able to participate in pretty much everything that an on-campus person would be able to do," she said.
Lewis also credits strong support from faculty and staff with helping her complete her degree. Academic advisors and professors were responsive and invested in student success, providing guidance throughout her academic journey.
Her coursework further reinforced how anthropology connects directly to her future in education. Studying diverse communities and cultural expression helped her better understand how to support students in inclusive and meaningful ways.
“I think that it's incredibly important to be able to connect with them on a different level," she said. “Knowing a little bit about someone's culture is very helpful in doing that."
Now a graduate, Lewis plans to pursue a master's degree and a teaching credential with the goal of bringing ethnic studies into the classroom and helping students better understand both themselves and others.
ALIYAH PRELOW | CAL STATE SAN MARCOS
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY
.jpeg)
Prior to attending Cal State San Marcos, Aliyah Prelow had already built experience in her field, working for several years as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) supporting children with disabilities. With aspirations to one day work for herself, she saw furthering her education as the next step toward that goal.
Through her role as a behavior technician, she observed speech-language pathologists in school settings and saw a clear connection between her experience and a future career.
“I had already been working with kids … and advocating for them," Prelow said, adding that the field felt like a natural fit as she learned more about it. She was also inspired by her grandfather's recovery from aphasia related to a stroke with the help of speech-language pathologists.
She enrolled in
CSUSM's fully online speech-language pathology program to continue working full time while earning her degree. Although she initially preferred in-person learning, the online format made it possible to stay on track academically while supporting herself financially.
“I prefer to be in person, but being that I have to work, that's not an option," she said. “So, I think this is a good alternative because I still get the coursework, and I still get the knowledge."
The program's cohort-based model helped foster continuity and connection among students. Moving through coursework together, students supported one another through group chats and shared study time.
“It feels like one family," Prelow said. “You would think, you're online, there's no relationships formed, but I've made a lot of friends."
The structured format also reduced logistical barriers, with pre-sequenced courses eliminating the need to navigate registration each term.
While the pace could be intense, particularly during shorter summer sessions or heavier course loads, Prelow credits strong time management and consistent faculty support for helping her succeed. She maintained strong grades, earned Dean's List recognition and was accepted into the university's online Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program, which she will begin in the fall.
“My biggest motivation has been the end goal," Prelow said. “Even knowing how stressful it will be, I want to get in it and get the ball rolling—that's what keeps me going."
As a first-generation college student, Prelow said her path was not always understood by those around her, particularly when she chose not to pursue more familiar options like nursing. Still, she remained focused on building a career aligned with her interests and long-term goals.
“My dad initially doubted how beneficial [online learning] was going to be," she said. “But now he's like, 'I'm so proud of you.'"
Looking ahead, she plans to work as a traveling speech-language pathologist in hospitals, with the long-term goal of opening her own practice and helping families better navigate care and services.
Aliyah Prelow celebrates at Cal State San Marcos's spring 2026 commencement ceremony for the College of Health and Human Services on May 16, 2026.
The CSU honored more than 100,000 students this spring.
Meet a few remarkable graduates from the Class of 2026.