

Courtesy of California State University-East Bay
California State University, East Bay is a public university founded in 1957 to expand access to higher education in the East Bay. It began as a state college serving Alameda County and became part of the California State University system as that system developed.
For decades, the institution was known as California State University, Hayward. It adopted the name California State University, East Bay in 2005, reflecting a service area beyond its Hayward campus. Today it offers undergraduate and graduate study and serves substantial numbers of transfer students alongside first-time undergraduates.
Cal State East Bay organizes its academic programs into four colleges: Business and Economics; Education and Allied Studies; Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences; and Science. Students can pursue bachelor's and master's degrees, as well as selected professional credentials and certificates.
The range includes business administration, computer science, engineering, biology, psychology, nursing, public health, education and the arts. Program structure matters when comparing options: admission to the university does not necessarily establish eligibility for a specialized major. Nursing and teacher-credential pathways, for example, have requirements beyond general university admission. Applicants should use the current academic catalog to check prerequisites, campus or online availability, and whether a program accepts students in their intended term.
Cal State East Bay's main campus is in Hayward, California, in the eastern San Francisco Bay Area. The university also has a Concord campus, so applicants should confirm where their particular program meets rather than assume every course is offered in Hayward.
The Hayward campus sits in the hills above the city. Its location gives students access to Bay Area employers and communities, but travel time can vary considerably by route and time of day. Hayward has BART service, and reaching the hilltop campus may require a connecting bus, shuttle or other transportation. Oakland International Airport is a regional airport option. Commuters should account for transportation and parking costs when comparing Cal State East Bay with other schools.
Cal State East Bay describes its purpose in terms of accessible public higher education, student learning and service to the communities of the East Bay. Its stated priorities include serving a diverse student population and connecting education with research and community engagement.
Those statements describe institutional aims, not measured outcomes for every student. Prospective applicants can evaluate how the aims translate into practice by examining their intended major's course availability, advising arrangements, experiential opportunities and graduation requirements. The university is a public CSU campus, not a religiously affiliated institution.
Name of the institution
California State University-East BayLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PublicSetting type
Suburb: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
10,000 - 19,999School type
UniversityMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1957California State University-East Bay 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
Doctor's degree - research/scholarshipData 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.