Marketing Messages

Key Points in Promoting the University

Sonoma State is a public residential campus emphasizing creativity, collaboration, communication, critical thinking and community engagement in the liberal arts and sciences, preparing students with transferable skills for professional careers and successful futures.

  • SSU has faculty and staff committed to excellence in teaching and willing to work with students to help them succeed
  • Since students must be well prepared for tomorrow’s workforce, promotion of internships with industry and scholarship opportunities with faculty is a high priority. Many majors have a requirement for either an internship or research experience.
  • Being largely residential in nature with a majority of Sonoma's students living on campus or within a few miles, the importance of learning opportunities outside the classroom is recognized.
  • Therefore, co-curricular learning is emphasized
  • The residential experience turns students into adults and readies them for life
  • SSU freshmen all take a first year experience, many of those classes have living and learning opportunities and leadership roles
  • Sonoma State has great athletic programs that help students be team players, have a sense of responsibility, work hard, and know how to win and lose.
  • Sonoma State has phenomenal faculty and professional staff
  • Study abroad opportunities abound including some programs with an international component
  • The Green Music Center with allows students to attend and participate in performing life at a world-class concert hall.
  • Through our academic and professional Extended Education programs, SSU offers a variety of career and workplace-focused classes and certificates as well as degree course offerings through summer and intersession programs. 

Refer to the University's "Points of Pride" and "10 Reasons Students Love SSU" for information about specific academic schools, programs and features.
Points of Pride
10 Reasons Students Love SSU:

For assistance with crafting audience-appropriate messages, contact university.affairs@sonoma.edu.

Facts About SSU

The following statements may be used in communications about Sonoma State University:.

Sonoma State University has approximately 9,000 students; 3,100 of them in on-campus housing.

SSU is known as a model for sustainability in building, teaching, and planning. Numerous national awards have been presented to the University. Faculty are regularly called upon to provide advice and expertise on sustainability and urban planning throughout the world.

Sonoma State University serves as a valuable resource to local industries of the North Bay (wine and engineering), providing training and education for the future workforce.

Most classes are relatively small compared to many colleges. Sixty-two out of the 74 classrooms on campus hold fewer than 50 students (84%).

U.S. News and World Report ranks Sonoma State as one of America's best Colleges (Master's Universities in the West) each year.

Sonoma's faculty and staff are annually awarded grants and contracts from agencies such as National Endowment for the Humanities, NASA, U.S. Department of Education, National science Foundation, U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. These grants support research that engages students and has significant emphasis on addressing state and community needs.

Sonoma's residential environment is rated highly by students. Housing consists of suites and apartments-many with single rooms (with private bathroom), living rooms, and kitchens with microwaves, cook top stoves and dishwashers.