CSULB Ranked Eighth in Awarding Degrees to Minorities

Diverse Issues in Higher Education magazine has ranked California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) eighth in the nation in conferring bachelor's degrees to minority students. It also ranked CSULB:

• 1st in the nation in awarding degrees in English languages and literature to minority students;
• 3rd in awarding degrees in visual and performing arts to minority students; and
• 5th in awarding degrees in health professions and related clinical sciences.

In all, CSULB awarded undergraduate degrees to more than 3,190 minority students, who made up nearly 49 percent of the 2008 graduating class.

The rankings were part of the magazine's 2009 special report on the "Top 100 Degree Producers," a list of the best minority degree awarders among institutions of higher learning in the United States. It is the only national report that showcases U.S. colleges' and universities' success in awarding degrees to African American, Latino, Asian American and Native American students.

CSULB was also seventh in the nation in conferring bachelor's degrees to Hispanics, and

• 2nd in awarding Hispanic students English language and literature degrees;
• 5th in conferring the same group visual and performing arts degrees;
• 9th in both foreign languages, literatures and linguistics and in mathematics and statistics degrees;
• 10th in philosophy and religious studies in ethnic degrees.

CSULB scored top-10 rankings in other ethnicities and academic disciplines, including:

• Asian American: 2nd in both visual and performing arts and health professions and related clinical sciences, 7th in English language and literature and letters, and 9th in both business, management, marketing, and related support services and in area, ethnic, cultural and gender studies;
• African American: ranked 10th in English language and literature and letters;
• American Indian: 3rd in both foreign languages, literatures and linguistics and in English language and literature and letters.

"Cal State Long Beach is located in one of the most ethnically diverse regions of the United States, and our graduating class does reflect the diverse populations of the areas we serve," said CSULB President F. King Alexander. "This campus has made a concerted effort for years to reach out to all K-12 students and their parents in this community to encourage college enrollment, and the magazine once again has confirmed our success."

The Diverse "Top 100" is the only national analysis to use the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education. Using these statistics, rankings were created in the total number of baccalaureate degrees awarded at every university and college in the nation as well as specific figures in major fields of study and disciplines.