The City of Fresno and its Department of Education recognizes that today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders. Educational opportunities in Fresno County are abundant. The area offers quality schools of choice, including public, private and charter school, vocational and technical training programs and access to some of the finest colleges and universities in the nation. Those who wish to continue their education are fortunate to also have an abundance of excellent institutions close to home.
K-12
Fresno Unified School District
Fresno Unified School District is the third-largest school district in California with more than 74,000 students at 110 schools. The district also boasts an extremely diverse student population, with more than 59 languages represented, and it offers continuing education for more than 10,000 adults.
Central Unified School District
Central Unified School District continues to be a population growth center for the City of Fresno and Fresno County. It serves over 16,000 students with programs for preschool, 14 elementary schools, three middle schools, three high school campuses, a continuation school, two community day schools and an adult school.
Clovis Unified School District
Clovis Unified School District is a K-12 public school system that serves the cities of Clovis and Fresno, as well as some unincorporated areas of Fresno County and the rural community of Friant. The district covers approximately 198 square miles and has a student population of close to 43,000. The district includes much of the northeast area of the city of Fresno, with 44 percent of the district’s student population living within Fresno city limits.
Higher Education
California State University, Fresno (Fresno State)
California State University, Fresno is one of the 23 campuses of the California State University system and serves Central California’s diverse, growing population. With an enrollment of more than 24,000 students, Fresno State is designated by U.S. Department of Education as both a Hispanic-serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving Institution. The university offers 66 undergraduate degree programs and 44 master’s degrees in the liberal arts and science and in professional disciplines emphasizing agriculture, business, engineering and technology, health and human services and education; and doctoral programs in educational leadership, physical therapy and nursing.
Fresno City College
Fresno City College, California’s first community college, was established in 1910. This comprehensive two-year college provides a vast array of services to assist students in achieving their educational goals. The college offers a wide range of academic programs that award associate degrees and certificates. It is dedicated to working collaboratively with the community to enhance the academic, economic and social development of the region.
Clovis Community College
Clovis Community College is the state’s 113th community college and serves over 12,000 students in the Central Valley. Their goal and mission statement is “Creating Opportunities – One Student at a Time.” The college offers state-of-the-art facilities with a dynamic campus culture embracing diversity, individualism and uniqueness of their student population.
Fresno Pacific University
Fresno Pacific University is the Valley’s only accredited Christian university, connecting every student’s untapped potential with unlimited opportunity for professional, personal and ethical growth. Nonprofit and independent, the university offers more than 100 areas of study to about 4,000 traditional undergraduate, adult degree completion, graduate and seminary students at the main campus in Southeast Fresno and throughout the Valley at regional campuses in North Fresno, Visalia, Bakersfield and Merced as well as online. ›
Alliant International University
Alliant International University prepares students for professional careers of service and leadership. Located across from Fresno’s Yosemite International Airport, Alliant offers master’s and doctoral degree programs, as well as certificate programs and credentials. Programs include clinical psychology and counseling, applied criminology, business administration, infant-preschooler mental health, organizational psychology, school counseling and school psychology.
The Institute of Technology, Inc.
Since the original opening of the institute in 1986, it has partnered with the Fresno community to produce employable graduates in their chosen fields of study. The institute provides students with an affordable, career-focused education in a variety of programs in the medical, business, culinary, criminology and technical fields. In as little as nine months, students are armed with the skill set, knowledge and work ethic to succeed in their career of choice. The Institute of Technology is proud to be a provider of productive employees to Fresno’s business community.
National University
National University is the second-largest, WASC-accredited, private, nonprofit institution of higher learning in California, and is one of the only three WASC-accredited, four-year universities in Fresno. The university serves over 33,000 students, and over 165,000 alumni, among 20 campuses in California and Nevada. It consists of five academic schools and one college, including the Schools of Business and Management, Education, Engineering/Media, Health and Human Services, Professional Studies and the College of Letters and Sciences.
University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix prepares working adults to compete and thrive in the changing global economy. Its Central Valley Campus offers associate, bachelors, masters and doctoral degree programs in a host of areas including nursing, education and business. Students can choose to study online or at three convenient locations in Fresno, Bakersfield and Visalia.
San Joaquin College of Law
San Joaquin College of Law is a nonprofit law school that provides quality legal education to those wishing to become effective, successful and community-minded attorneys. In addition to the New American Legal Clinic, which offers students an opportunity to assist legal residents seeking citizenship, the college also offers internships ranging from the district attorney and public defender’s offices to a multitude of private practices.