Sonoma State University Reviews

"Sonoma State transformed me personally, professionally, and academically. In the English department, the professors were incredibly supportive and equally well-informed on modern discourse. I was afforded multiple paid internship opportunities through the faculty which directly contributed to my ability to find a job within two months of graduation. I cannot recommend the people in the English department highly enough. I've had at least one job since I was fourteen, and am usually juggling two or three. Since graduating, I am making more as a full-time employee with health benefits than I ever have."

"I attended Sonoma State University from 2005-2006 after transferring from Santa Rosa Junior College. My time at the university was short due to taking 18-19 units a semester. I mostly took criminology, criminal justice classes, and some psychology courses. I also completed all of my upper division and some residual undergraduate classes at Sonoma. I was a commuter student and drove from a nearby town for class. I primarily stayed on campus throughout the day and was on campus mostly in the library to study. I enjoyed the small class sizes and space which was provided. The professors were helpful and knowledgeable as well as fostered a good learning environment. Sonoma State had a great curriculum for criminal justice which discussed current events, case law, and also new technology in the realm of criminal justice. I also took classes in psychology which were also interesting and thought provoking. The schools size and different programs around campus helped me navigate it from coming from the junior college. Some facilities were new or in progress of being built or completed so it was unfortunate for my personal experience but I know you will love it. I also know many other students who transferred from junior colleges and attended Sonoma State. There are also some of my graduating class who I still have contact with due to our related work fields and we still reflect on what we learned at Sonoma State and how we have used our knowledge out in the world. I recommend the school but I also advise everyone to visit and speak to current students as programs change and you really need to visit to see if it is the right fit for you."

"I recently graduated from Sonoma State University in California this spring, 2019. I had a great public education and my undergraduate education had a lot of resources to help me achieve my bachelor's degree. The program that I was a part of was a great stepping stone and did a great job in preparing me for my graduate studies. I am currently enrolled in a master's of science in occupational therapy degree at dominican university of california, and I thank Sonoma State University for giving me such a good education. Sonoma State state was a great school to learn and grow in and I am happy to call myself an alumni."

"The school itself has a beautiful landscape. There are many places that one is able to study in peace and enjoy a beautiful scenery. The classes themselves were manageable and there are many places that one can turn for extra help. I particularly liked all of my classes that i took for my degree. The school has a great program for people interested in the wine industry as its located in the heart of wine country."

"The Liberal Studies program at Sonoma State well prepared me to continue my education and future learning. Classes are small and focus on critical thinking, reading and analysis, and discussion to help students understand concepts. Throughout the program the idea of being a lifelong learner is emphasized. This program prepared me well for my Masters education. Without this program, I would not be as prepared as I am for my Masters work, as it requires heavy analysis and critical thinking."

"Sonoma State University is a small, community based, supportive College located in Rohnert Park, Ca. The school is very good when supporting their students when they need it. I had a peer mentor my freshman year to help guide me with how to survive school."

"Hi, I attended Sonoma Sate University and loved it. The teachers are great and the campus is beautiful. My bachelors was in Sociology and it was a life changing program. The program was thought in a great manner and gave you many options in classes to take. I always advise people to take sociology classes even if it is not your major."

"While Sonoma State is a public university, it felt like a private school. My class sizes ranged from 8 students to 250 - which, compared to other state schools, is small! I always felt like my professors knew me and were willing to meet outside of class during office hours for any questions I had. While I attended Sonoma, we had about 8,000 students with around 2,000 living on campus. This made for a very inclusive community. It seemed as if everyone knew everyone and you couldn't walk 10 feet without running into someone you knew. Even without a football team to rally the students school spirit, Greek Life and clubs made up for it. Being surrounded by farming land and wine country, getting involved in student life is the way to go! I can't say enough about my amazing experience at Sonoma and how beautiful the campus is. It's a small town but the school becomes your home away from home. I'm so thankful I went there and have strong friendships and connections because of it."

"Sonoma State University is a great option for students already living in the area who would like to further their education. As a first-generation college student, I was a overwhelmed with the idea of leaving home and having to balance being a full-time student with working full-time so that I may pay for my education and living expenses. I was able to live in the comfort of my childhood home and commute to and from school without having to worry much about my expenses. The courses within the Sociology department were both challenging and insightful; I was very grateful for the professors in my major: they had great insight in the field of Sociology and continually encouraged their students to succeed."

"I attended Sonoma State University as a Theatre Arts major with a concentration in Acting and thoroughly enjoyed my time there. I created bonds with fellow students I still keep in contact with today and formed great relationships with faculty members who still mentor me from time to time. I established a great foundation in terms of acting and was provided the tools to work in the field. However, in this competitive profession I am now looking to acquire an MFA in Acting in order to make myself stand out. If you are looking for a school with lots of hands on time with faculty and a great community then enroll at Sonoma State. It's a great place to dive in and get the training needed to be knowledgeable in the arts."

"My time at Sonoma State was incredibly educational to me as a person. While I may not have connected with as many people within my department as I probably should have, I met many important and interesting people all over campus. Throughout my last 2 years at SSU I was involved in a student leadership position that gave me a lot of insight into how administrators and professional staff members work constantly to help students and I learned a lot about how important communication is towards humanizing people. Part of being in a leadership position allowed me the flexibility to become familiar with several professors and staff members of different departments, although some of it was also partly because of SSU's relatively small size for a university. The overall campus community was a bit more like a community college filled with "traditional" students. Demographics wise, the students of Sonoma were mostly young white, and female, which was caused me to experience plenty of culture shock. As a person of color on a predominately white campus, I found community building with other people of color to be a vital part of my ability to cope with stress and express my culture."

"Sonoma State University is a great college for the person who is looking for a home town environment feel. Rohnert Park is not a crazy college town, but still has its perks. I enjoyed Sonoma State because I grew up in the area and it was close to home. While I attended the school, we got a great new student center and a musical hall that host many popular artist and groups. It's a small school and the Hutchins Liberal Arts, teacher track program, has small classes so making friends was quite easy!"

"Beautiful campus. Great atmosphere. A place that anyone can call a home and everyone can find their calling."

"Attending Sonoma State University was a great experience for me. It was very flexible with my work schedule, and the advisors were top notch. I took classes through the extended education program and it was very accessible for working adults. The education I received left me feeling intelligent and a worthwhile individual of society. I was able to think for myself, read wonderful literature and develop myself as a critical thinker. I also completed my special education credential at Sonoma State and it was a wonderful program, I can’t recommend it enough. The professors were wonderful because they had all worked in special education classrooms previously. They did not just teach us from a book, but from real life experiences. I felt when I left my credential program that I was ready to work in the classroom. The advisors in the program also worked hard to match us with wonderful mentor teachers. The advisors worked with my closely to make sure that all requirements were filled and that I was on track. I was able to meet many students who shared the same interests as me and we were able to form friendships that now are great for networking with other professionals in my field of study. I had to have student loans while at Sonoma State, and the financial aid department was always very easy and accessible to talk to. They made sure that I was up to date on all due dates and were always available to answer questions or concerns."

"my focus is gerontology, their program is in progress...I found some excellent teachers, but most are mediocre. Strong plus is that you can combine courses at near-by Berkeley or?"

"My school is a small liberal arts and business school in a small, country-esque community. They have a huge Greek life and student organizations. Their "dorms" are basically apartments and consistently rated among the country's best living facilities. They also just built a brand new student center/dining hall/restaurants"

"I really enjoyed my time at Sonoma State University. The programs provided depth of study and the professors really cared about my educational career. The campus is in a very beautiful location in California and is a smaller community of educators. These attributes of SSU helped me to want to be on campus and continue taking courses. The campus and community was never overwhelming for me, a small town girl. I felt the teachers believed in me. One of my environmental studies teachers let me know that she felt I would be a good masters degree candidate. I had not considered this option before she shared her thoughts with me. I was very inspired by this share and felt seen as well as appreciated for my efforts in her courses. I never forgot her words, and after time and saving up, I did in fact go back and earn a masters degree. The entire experience was a positive one."

"College is a great experience as you learn how to balance your life an prepare for the real world. Make sure to get internships and stay focused on your goals. Join clubs, study, but have fun"

"Great state school with smaller class sizes. You are not a scan tron number and get do build student teacher relationships with the professors."

"SSU is a lovely campus with wonderful teachers that are over qualified, enthuastic and ready to share their knowledge."