Opinion: Smaller CSUs Offer Support That Bigger Campuses May Lack

In NEWS Nov 02, 2026 By Sariah Anaya Photography by Stephen Day 335 Views 0 Comments A statue of a coyote howling in the quad in front of Pfau Library on the CSUSB campus Stephen Day The advantages of a smaller CSU through the lens of a first‑generation student. As a first-generation college student from a low-income family, choosing a smaller California State University was the best decision I could have made. Attending CSUSB has provided me with affordability, support, and a strong sense of community that I believe I would not have experienced if I attended a larger CSU. My experience has shown me that smaller CSU campuses can offer students opportunities just as valuable, if not more, than those found at larger CSU campuses. Growing up, college felt like a far-off dream; no one in my family had attended college, so I had very little knowledge about the application process or what to expect. As I approached my senior year of high school, that dream began to feel possible.

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