California’s health care industry is the largest and the state’s fastest growing. With needs increasing for medical services, behavioral health support, nursing care, and public health infrastructure, the state requires a strong and steady source of trained, compassionate and community-connected professionals.
More health care professionals are trained at the CSU than any other higher education system in the state. In 2024, more than half (55%) of all California-based health care graduates matriculated from a CSU campus. Nearly 3,300 nursing degrees were issued by the CSU, representing 88% of all CSU health care degrees issued that year. Through real-world training and strong partnerships with health systems and public agencies, the CSU is preparing thousands of students each year to step directly into high-need, high-impact roles.
The CSU advances health care education and workforce development through a network of specialized campus centers and institutes that integrate academic rigor with community engagement and clinical innovation:
- Central California Center for Excellence in Nursing at Fresno State addresses regional health disparities through workforce research and policy initiatives.
- Nursing simulation centers can be found across CSU campuses, including Cal State Fullerton, Cal State LA and Cal State San Marcos. These state-of-the-art centers provide immersive, high-fidelity clinical training environments that boost students’ critical thinking and patient care competencies.
- The Valley Foundation School of Nursing at San José State fosters excellence in nursing education through strong community partnerships and a focus on public health. Collectively, these centers exemplify the CSU’s commitment to preparing a diverse, practice-ready nursing workforce equipped to meet California’s evolving health care needs.