Photo courtesy of California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI).
CAMARILLO — Nurses finishing bachelor’s degrees between hospital shifts. Principals earning doctorates while running schools. Teachers adding graduate credentials without leaving their classrooms.
These are the students behind a 24% increase this Fall in online enrollment at Cal State Channel Islands. While Fall numbers are preliminary, the University currently has 764 students enrolled in fully online programs, four times the number it enrolled online five years ago.
The increase comes at a time when many campuses are reporting enrollment pressure. CSUCI’s online programs have grown every year since 2021, putting degrees and new professional possibilities within reach for students who cannot easily get to campus. The programs are built around two questions: Which students face barriers to earning a degree, and which employers in Ventura County cannot find the skilled professionals they need?
According to Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Jessica Lavariega Monforti, “Our founding commitment is to serve students who face barriers to a university education. By integrating rigorous online programs into our core academic mission, our faculty has made higher education accessible for those balancing full-time work and families. Delivering degrees directly to where our students live and work allows us to keep our promise to the community while directly fueling Ventura County’s vital regional workforce.”
Nursing shows the pattern most clearly. Registered nurses who hold an associate degree can finish a bachelor’s degree online without leaving the hospitals where they already work. Enrollment in that program nearly tripled this year. Nurses who want to go further can continue online through a master’s degree and become family nurse practitioners, moving from associate degree to advanced practice without relocating or leaving the workforce.
The online doctorate in educational leadership does the same for educators. It enrolls working principals, district administrators, and community college leaders across the region to pursue the degree while doing the job.
Developed in connection with local school districts, CSUCI’s online master’s programs in English and mathematics demonstrate how community partnerships can create new opportunities. The programs enable classroom teachers to deepen their subject expertise and qualify to teach college-level courses to high school students.
Two programs extend the reach further. An online computer science degree, launched this year, lets students who started technical coursework elsewhere finish a bachelor’s degree. This Fall the University is offering a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish-English Translation and Interpretation, a field with steady demand in hospitals, courtrooms, and schools throughout the region.
“We are developing programs that meet industry needs and student needs at the same time,” said Jill Leafstedt, Dean of Extended University and Digital Learning. “Employers here tell us which credentials they are short on. Students tell us what they can fit around work and family. A program only works when it answers both.”
Applications are currently open for Spring 2027 and Fall 2027. CSUCI offers online degrees, credentials, and certificates for working adults, career changers, and students pursuing graduate study.
About Cal State Channel Islands
Cal State Channel Islands (CSUCI) is Ventura County’s only public university. Opened in 2002, CSUCI is part of the California State University — the nation’s largest and most diverse four-year public university system. Located near Camarillo, the campus serves more than 4,800 students across more than 90 academic programs. A proud Hispanic-Serving Institution, CSUCI is recognized by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education for its commitment to excellence and opportunity. Learn more at www.csuci.edu