While many students tend to search outside of their hometown for colleges, attending local colleges can have many benefits. For students living in Fresno, there are several local colleges they can consider in their search for the right school.

Two of the most popular local universities are Fresno State and Fresno Pacific University. The CSF program (California Scholarship Federation) is offering students the opportunity to tour these local campuses this Thursday, April 27.

This will be the second college trip offered by CSF this year. During the first semester, students toured several colleges in southern California including UCLA and USC.

Although many students may be familiar with these local colleges, it is still beneficial to tour the campuses and learn more about their academic programs.

Academic advisor Michelle Warkentin believes it is important to consider local colleges even if they are not your first choice.

“I think it is important to just explore student’s options, even if it’s just a backup plan,” Warkentin said. “It’s nice for them to really know what the college is like, to go on campus and to see what the majors are. A lot of times students end up staying local, maybe, and it’s not their first choice. It’s good for them to just know that it is a viable option. We have a lot of great colleges real close to home.”

Fresno State (California State University, Fresno) is accredited by the California Board of Education and The Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Fresno State’s main campus is 388 acres, not including their University Farm which spans over 1,000 acres.

I think it is important to just explore student’s options, even if it’s just a backup plan. It’s nice for them to really know what the college is like, to go on campus and to see what the majors are. A lot of times students end up staying local, maybe, and it’s not their first choice. It’s good for them to just know that it is a viable option. We have a lot of great colleges real close to home. — Michelle Warkentin

The college offers 45 master’s degree programs, as well as several other doctorate programs.  The university also features a world-class agriculture program as well as an athletic program in the NCAA.

Fresno Pacific University is a smaller Christian university that was established in 1944. Fresno Pacific aims to incorporate faith-based material into their academics. The college serves around 3,500 undergraduate students.

Fresno Pacific is currently the only accredited Christian university in the Central Valley. Around 98 percent of the traditional undergraduate students are able to receive financial aid from the college.

While she does not plan on attending either of these colleges at the moment, Cate Vander Kooi, ‘18, is not ruling out the possibility of enrolling in a local university.

“I do not plan on attending college locally,” Vander Kooi said. “Even so, it’s important to consider local colleges because it’s necessary to look at all your options, even if it’s not going to be your number one pick. I really want to go to UC San Diego or even Point Loma, but I’m open to anything right now.”

While the trip is mostly geared towards juniors, other students are also scheduled to attend the tours. While it is too late to sign up to join this group and attend the trip, interested students can talk with Warkentin and Andrea Donaghe about planning future trips.

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