
California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) was founded in 1960 as South Bay State College to expand public higher education in the Los Angeles area. Its location and identity developed alongside changing plans for where the new college would serve students.
An early plan placed the campus on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The state instead selected a site in Carson, a decision shaped in part by calls for a more accessible university after the 1965 Watts uprising. The institution later became California State College, Dominguez Hills and took its present university name in 1977. That history helps explain its emphasis on access for students from the surrounding region.
CSUDH organizes its academic programs into colleges spanning the arts, sciences, education, business, health, and professional education. Students can pursue bachelor's and master's degrees, teaching credentials, and selected certificates; offerings and admission rules differ by program.
Its academic colleges include the College of Arts and Humanities; College of Business Administration and Public Policy; College of Education; College of Health, Human Services, and Nursing; and College of Natural and Behavioral Sciences. The College of Continuing and Professional Education serves learners seeking additional professional and continuing-education options.
Representative fields include biology, computer science, psychology, business administration, public administration, teacher education, nursing, and the visual and performing arts. A student comparing majors should check the current catalog for prerequisites and whether a particular program has a separate application or limited clinical, laboratory, or fieldwork placements.
CSUDH is in Carson, California, in the South Bay area of Los Angeles County. Its location gives students access to the broader Los Angeles region while making commuting time and transportation costs important parts of enrollment planning.
The campus sits near major regional roads, and local bus connections provide an alternative to driving. Prospective commuters should compare their actual travel times with their likely class schedule: an evening course, internship, or campus job can change the practicality of a route. Housing is available on campus, but the university also serves students who travel from surrounding communities.
CSUDH describes its mission in terms of accessible public education, academic achievement, and service to the diverse communities of its region. Its stated priorities include student learning and civic and professional contribution; these are institutional aims, not measured outcomes for every student.
As a campus of the California State University system, CSUDH is a public institution rather than a religiously affiliated college. Its history and regional role are relevant to applicants looking for a university with strong ties to Southern California.
Name of the institution
California State University-Dominguez HillsLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PublicSetting type
City: SmallInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
10,000 - 19,999School type
Comprehensive higher education institutionMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1960California State University-Dominguez Hills is institutionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Bachelor's degree
Postbaccalaureate certificate
Master's degree
Post-master's certificate
Doctor's degree - research/scholarship
Doctor's degree - professional practiceData last updated on November 5, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.