Valley colleges & universities: ranked by full-time equivalent students in 2004-2005

San Fernando Valley Business Journal, Oct 10, 2005 by Vanessa Herman

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

COLLEGE of the Canyons, founded in 1969, was perhaps the fastest growing academic institution on this year's list of colleges and universities in the greater San Fernando Valley.

The school's enrollment, measured by full-time equivalent students, more than doubled to 19,678 for the 2004-2005 school year compared to its population of 9,600 students for the 2003-2004 school year. As a result, the Valencia-based college moved to the No. 2 spot on this year's list, compared with the No. 6 spot last year.

The No. 3-ranked school on this year's Business Journal list was Los Angeles Valley College with 17,000 students.

Rounding out the top five colleges and universities is National University, in the No. 4 spot with 16,512 students, and Los Angeles Pierce College in the No. 5 spot with 12,000 students.

Overall, of those who reported their data, schools experienced an increase in budgets for the 2004 to 2005 school year, although a few schools experienced small budget decreases.

California Community Colleges will also get an increase in funding for the 2005-2006 fiscal year, reaching almost $5.8 billion for all the schools in the state system.

THE PACESETTER

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY NORTHRIDGE

CALIFORNIA State University Northridge is the largest academic institution in the San Fernando Valley.

With nine colleges, offering 60 baccalaureate degrees, 45 master's degrees, 28 credentials in the field of education CSUN has a total of 23,206 full-time equivalent students.

Recently, an alumnus, Mary Bayramian, and her husband, Jack, passed on in 2002 and 2005 respectively, donating their entire $7.3 million estate to the university. The large gift will allow the school to fund two major new university scholarship programs, including scholarships for the future Valley Performing Arts Center project on the campus.

The University's student services building will be renamed Bayramian Hall in honor of the benefactors.

After a $70-million reconstruction effort, CSUN has upgraded a number of its facilities, including the Oviatt Library, arts and media and health development buildings.

Last month, the school broke ground on a new, 28,000-square-foot campus police station and a new parking lot to help accommodate the school's growth was opened in the current school year.