California State University , Fresno California State University , Fresno , often referred to as Fresno State , is one of the top - ranked campuses comprising the California State University system . It is located at the northeast edge of Fresno , only 58 miles from Yosemite National Park . The university has a total enrollment of 22 , 565 students including undergraduate , graduate , and post - baccalaureate students . U . S . News & World Report ranks Fresno State 6th in public regional universities in California , 9th in public regional universities in the West ( all the western states from Hawaii and Alaska to Texas and Oklahoma ) , and 37th in all regional universities , both public and private , in the West . U . S . News & World Report ranks Fresno State ' s graduate program in Rehabilitation Counseling # 13 in the entire nation . At the graduate level , Fresno State also boasts the following nationally ranked programs : part - time MBA , Physical Therapy , Nursing , Speech - Language Pathology , and Social Work . The Princeton Review ranks Fresno State ' s Sid Craig School of Business MBA Program # 45 in the nation . The GMAT score for students in this program averages in the top 30 percentile nationwide . In Forbes Magazine ' s " America ' s Best Colleges List for 2013 , " Fresno State is ranked in the top 44 % of universities nationwide at # 359 . This ranking places Fresno State 6th out of the 23 California State University campuses and outranking some UC campuses . Fresno State has a selective admission rate of 58 % . The university offers 95 Bachelor ' s degrees , 51 Master ' s degrees , 7 Doctoral degrees , and 20 different teaching credential s . The university ' s unique facilities include on - campus raisin and wine grape vineyards and a commercial winery , where student - made wines have won over 300 awards since 1997 . Fresno State is one of only a few universities world - wide that have an on - campus planetarium , operated by the Physics Department . Members of Fresno State ' s nationally ranked Top 10 Equestrian Team have the option of housing their horses on campus , next to indoor and outdoor arenas . Fresno State boasts a newly opened state - of - the - art Student Recreation Center and one of the biggest libraries in the California State University system . The campus sits at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in the San Joaquin Valley . The city of Fresno is the fifth largest city in California . The university is within an hour ' s drive of many mountain and lake resorts and within a three hour drive of both Los Angeles and San Francisco . Yosemite National Park is only 58 miles from campus . Fresno State operates on a semester schedule . The fall semester runs from late August through December . The spring semester runs from mid - January through mid - May . History . Fresno State was founded as the Fresno State Normal School in 1911 with Charles Lourie McLane as its first president . The original campus was what is now Fresno City College . In 1921 , Fresno State Normal School became Fresno State Teachers College , and in 1934 it was renamed Fresno State College and adapted its official fight song " Fight ! Varsity . " Fresno Junior College , now FCC , moved onto the campus with Fresno State in 1921 and the two institutions shared the campus until 1948 , when the FCC moved to another location . The first graduate degree s , in English and Education , were granted in 1949 . In 1954 , the 70 - member Fresno State College Orchestra became the Fresno Philharmonic Orchestra . In 1956 , Fresno State moved its campus to its present location in the northeast part of the city , and FCC bought the old campus and moved back in . Fresno State College became a charter institution of the California State University System in 1961 . In 1972 the name was officially changed to California State University , Fresno . Campus . The greater campus extends from Bulldog Stadium on the west boundary to the Save Mart Center and the under - construction Campus Pointe and Highway 168 on the east side . Vineyards and orchards designate the northern boundary of the campus , while Shaw Avenue designates the southern edge . The main campus features more than 46 traditional and modern buildings . An additional 34 structures are on the 1 , 011 acre University Farm , which includes the student - run Equine , Swine , Beef , Dairy , Poultry , and Sheep Units as well as several hundred acres of cattle rangeland . It is considered one of the most modern and best equipped agricultural facilities in the West . Fresno State was officially designated as an arboretum in 1979 and now boasts more than 4 , 000 trees on campus . Fresno State operates the first university - based commercial winery in the United States . Henry Madden Library . The Henry Madden Library is the main resource for recorded knowledge and information supporting the teaching , research , and service functions of Fresno State . Because of its size and depth , it is an important community and regional resource and a key part of institution ' s role as a regional university . The library recently underwent a $ 105 million renovation that was completed February 2009 . The library held its grand opening on February 19 , 2009 and is now home to a variety of book collections . The library houses 1 , 000 , 000 books in its . The library is home to the largest installation of compact shelving on any single floor in the United States . The shelves amount to over in length . It is currently the third largest library in the CSU system ( in terms of square footage ) , and among the top ten largest in the CSU system based on the number of volumes . It also is the largest academic building on the Fresno State campus . The five - story building features seating areas for almost 4 , 000 people , group study rooms , wireless access and a Starbucks . The Table Mountain Tribe , which runs Table Mountain Casino north of Fresno , donated $ 10 million to this project . The library features Native American elements in its architecture . The expanded and remodeled library is among the largest libraries in the 23 - campus California State University system and is the largest academic library in the Central Valley . Public computers are available that run either the Mac or PC operating systems . Student , faculty and staff have access to over 200 wireless laptops , a media production lab for editing digital video and audio and an instruction and collaboration center ( Studio 2 ) for teaching information literacy skills . Reference assistance can be accessed by telephone , e - mail , instant messaging , text messaging , and in - person in the Library . The Henry Madden Library features a number of special collections such as the Arne Nixon Center , a research center for the study of children ' s and young adult literature , and the Central Valley Political Archive . Michael Gorman , the former dean of the Library , was the President of the American Library Association in 2005 - 2006 . Peter McDonald is the current Dean . Academics . Smittcamp Family Honors College - President ' s Scholars is a program providing top California high school graduates a fully paid President ' s Scholarship , room and board , as well as other amenities for the duration of their studies . The Honors College is named after longtime campus friends and philanthropists Earl and Muriel Smittcamp . Fresno State was first of all 23 CSU campuses to offer an individual - campus doctorate . U . S . News & World Report ranks Fresno State 6th in public regional universities in California , 9th in top public universities in the West ( all the western states from Hawaii and Alaska to Texas and Oklahoma ) , and 37th in all regional universities , both public and private , in the West . The Princeton Review ranks Fresno State ' s Sid Craig School of Business MBA program # 45 in the nation . In Forbes Magazine ' s " America ' s Best Colleges List for 2013 , " Fresno State is ranked in the top 44 % of universities nationwide at # 359 . This places Fresno State 6th out of the 23 California State University campuses , closely ranked behind Cal Poly and San Diego State and outranking some UC campuses . The Craig School of Business is considered one of the top business schools in the western US . According to the Princeton Review , Craig School ( MBA ) is a top - 45 business school nationwide , based on annual rankings . Listed in that publication ' s 2009 " Best 282 Business Schools . " The Sid Craig School of Business is accredited by the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business ( AACSB ) . Forbes Magazine ranked Fresno State as one of " America ' s Best Public Colleges in the U . S . " in 2009 U . S . News & World Report ranks Fresno State ' s Rehabilitation Counseling program # 13 in the nation . Accreditation . Fresno State is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education ( NCATE ) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges . Student life . Greek . The Office of Student Activities and Leadership Development provides services , programs and co - curricular educational activities that give students the opportunity to develop skills and expand their knowledge . Greek life is active at Fresno State . 6 % of men are in fraternities and 5 % of women are in sororities . The most established fraternities are clustered in The Row , adjacent to Sorority Row . Student Activities & Leadership Development is charged with advising the four Greek Councils at Fresno State : the Interfraternity Council ( IFC ) , the Panhellenic Association ( PHA ) , the National Pan - Hellenic Council ( NPHC ) , and the United Sorority & Fraternity Council ( USFC ) . Councils are provided support in the areas of programming , council management , leadership development , membership recruitment , policy interpretation , scholastic achievement , and public relations . The Kappa chapter of Phrateres , a non - exclusive , non - profit social - service club , was installed here in 1936 . Between 1924 and 1967 , 23 chapters of Phrateres were installed in universities across North America . Clubs and organizations . Student clubs and organizations are groups that have been recognized by the university . Clubs and organizations can be based on academic , cultural , recreational , religious or other special interests . These groups are required to apply for recognition to receive support from the university . Associated Students , Inc . ( ASI ) . ASI is the recognized student body government at Fresno State . Through ASI , students participate in the governance of the university through fostering awareness of student opinions on campus issues and assisting in the protection of student rights . Twenty students are elected each year . There are three executives who include a President , Vice President and a Vice President of Finance , nine at - large senators and eight college senators . Those elected serve annual terms from June 1 to May 31 . ASI provides funding for student - related projects on campus . Sponsored Activities Funding provides supplemental event funding for recognized student clubs and organizations . The Instructionally Related Activity ( IRA ) fund provides funding for activities and laboratory experiences that are partially sponsored by an academic program , discipline , or department . rGrants provide financial support for graduate and undergraduate student research , projects , and other scholarly endeavors in all academic disciplines . Student Recreation Center . In February 2006 the Student Recreation Center opened . Construction costs were paid for and operating funds are derived from a semester student - use fee . While an Association entity , the Student Recreation Center is under the direction of the Division of Student Affairs . The Student Recreation Center is adjacent to the Save Mart Center arena . Any student who has paid the USU student - use fee in the current semester is eligible to use the Recreation Center . Faculty and staff may join at a monthly rate . This facility is not available to the general public . The center has four full - size basketball courts , a dance studio , a 1 / 8 mile ( 200 m ) indoor running track , locker rooms , 2 racquetball courts , aerobic equipment , and weight - lifting machines . Services include personal training , group fitness classes , towel service and personal lockers . Intramural sports are very popular among students . Sports typically offered are basketball , softball , soccer , water polo , tennis , flag football , table tennis , kickball , dodgeball and racquetball . Student housing - University Courtyard . Home to 1 , 100 students , University Courtyard consists of nine housing communities of both suite and community style living . Fresno State ' s classrooms , library , computer lab , student activities , athletic facilities , theater , Save Mart Center , Student Recreation Center and health center are all within walking distance of the residence halls . University Courtyard offers a computer lab and an outdoor swimming pool . The Courtyard has lighted parking , an electronic room and hall lock system , gated bicycle racks and campus escorts . During the fall and spring , all halls have live - in staff available 24 hours / 7 days a week . Athletics . Fresno State is a member of the Mountain West Conference . The university ' s 18 varsity sports teams are known as the Bulldogs , and the school ' s colors are cardinal red and blue . Fresno State has made several runs at NCAA tournaments in basketball , soccer , tennis , baseball , softball , and volleyball . The Bulldogs compete as a NCAA Division I school . The Bulldogs have earned the following NCAA Division I National Championships : The Mountain West Conference is currently in the process of evaluation as a potential automatic - qualifier BCS conference in football . Media . FresnoStateNews is an online source of information about current events affecting Fresno State students , faculty and staff . The site provides an archive of news articles , videos and photos , as well as links to major resources on campus . The FresnoState Magazine is published twice per year from the Office of University Communications . It is both a print and online publication that features current events at Fresno State , Alumni Association events and alumni achievements . The Collegian is the campus student - run newspaper . It is published during the fall and spring semesters on Monday , Wednesday and Friday . The online edition features video , podcasts and photo galleries . ROTC . Two branches of the military are represented on campus at Fresno State : Air Force and Army . The Air Force ROTC Detachment on campus , Detachment 35 , is one of the oldest in the nation . Founded in 1949 , only two years after the signing of the National Defense Act of 1947 which made the Air Force a separate armed force , Detachment 35 has become one of the premier commissioning sources for ROTC in the country . In July 2008 , Detachment 35 was awarded the " High Flight " award , naming it the top mid - sized detachment in the entire southwest region of the United States . Just a few months later , on Oct 29th 2008 , Detachment 35 was named best mid - sized detachment in the nation , and awarded the prestigious " Right of Line " award . This award is the highest honor for a detachment , and is a true sign of the leadership and quality of instruction within the organization . In addition to top honors in military performance , Detachment 35 has won " Warrior Challenge " , an intense athletic competition between 3 other competing midsize dets , 5 years in a row . Information about Detachment 35 can be found at their website . Institutes and centers . Jan and Bud Richter Center . The Jan and Bud Richter Center for Community Engagement and Service - Learning promotes the value of community service to students , faculty , and staff . CESL represents the university in activities that establish service - oriented partnerships . Kenneth L . Maddy Institute . The mission of Maddy Institute is “ To inspire citizen participation , elevate government performance , provide non - partisan analysis and assist in providing solutions for public policy issues important to the region , state and nation . ” Center for Irrigation Technology ( CIT ) . An independent testing laboratory , applied research facility , and educational resource center with the aim of advancing water management practices and irrigation technology . CIT ’ s programs cover four major areas : hydraulics laboratory testing , field research , analytical studies and special projects and education . CIT also boasts two sister institutions . The California Water Institute and the International Center for Water Technology . International Center for Water Technology . The International Center for Water Technology ( ICWT ) was established in 2001 to educate , promote , and assist in developing and adopting innovative technologies that improve water utilization , reduce energy demand , and positively impact air quality . California Water Institute . The California Water Institute ( CWI ) was created to provide education , research and analysis of policy issues involving water resources including water quality issues and integrated regional water management planning . Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship . The Lyles Center assists students and community members in pursuit of their entrepreneurial goals . The Lyles Center delivers assistance through applied learning , professional consulting , and managed problem solving . Central California Autism Center . The Central California Autism Center is a treatment & research center that provides principle - based behavior therapy for children 18 months to 6 years of age with a diagnosis of autism or a related disability . Most children receiving behavior therapy services improve their skills and abilities across many domains including language , motor skills , self - help skills , social skills , pre - academic skills and general learning skills . Central Valley Health Policy Institute . The institute ' s mission is to improve equity in health and healthcare by developing the region ’ s capacity for policy analysis and program development , implementation and evaluation through integrating and leveraging the resources of Fresno State and the institutions and communities of the San Joaquin Valley . Notable Fresno State alumni . Due to the large number of notable Fresno State alumni , another page has been created specifically to mention them . It is found here :