A Look at Our Diverse Student Population
The California Forum for Diversity in Graduate Education is more than an event—it’s a reflection of the future of higher education. Each year, the Diversity Forum draws hundreds of undergraduate and master’s-level students from across California’s public and private colleges and universities. And every year, these attendees bring with them a powerful mix of backgrounds, ambitions, and lived experiences.
The term “diversity” encompasses far more than race or ethnicity, and our student demographics reflect this broader understanding. From first-generation status to disciplinary interests, GPA ranges to graduate school goals, the Diversity Forum welcomes and supports a richly varied community of future scholars.
Fall 2024 - UC Riverside
First Generation
First generation students are consistently the highest attending group of student.
Race and Ethnicity
Students from racially and ethnically underrepresented backgrounds form the heart of the Diversity Forum. We are proud to create a space where students of color, who are often underrepresented in graduate programs and academia, can envision themselves as researchers, educators, and leaders.
Gender Identity
The Diversity Forum also draws students across a spectrum of gender identities and expressions. From women in STEM to nonbinary and LGBTQ+ students pursuing careers in academia, our event emphasizes the importance of visibility and belonging across all gender experiences.
Academic Levels and GPA Ranges
Participants include juniors, seniors, and master’s students from across California—many of whom are preparing to apply to graduate programs in the next 1–2 years. Students come with a range of GPA profiles, reflecting the fact that academic excellence is not defined by a single number, and that persistence, potential, and lived experience matter.
Academic Disciplines
The Forum attracts students from every academic discipline—STEM, humanities, social sciences, education, public health, the arts, and more. Whether they’re conducting undergraduate research in environmental chemistry or preparing to teach literature at the college level, these students come eager to connect with graduate programs aligned with their passions.
Graduate Degree Goals
Not all students arrive with the same destination in mind. Some are preparing for master’s programs, others are focused on PhD pathways, and many are still deciding. What they share is curiosity, ambition, and the desire to create meaningful impact in their fields and communities.
Home Institutions
Diversity Forum attendees come from across the state, from large public universities to small private colleges, urban campuses to rural communities. This geographic diversity strengthens the peer-to-peer learning that happens throughout the day, adding to the richness of conversations and connections.
| California State University | University of California | Private College or University |
| Cal Poly Humboldt | UC Berkeley | California Baptist University |
| Cal Poly Pomona | UC Davis | California Lutheran University |
| Cal Poly San Luis Obispo | UC Irvine | Claremont Colleges |
| California Maritime Academy | UC Los Angeles | Claremont Graduate University |
| CSU Bakersfield | UC Merced | Claremont McKenna College |
| CSU Channel Islands | UC Riverside | Harvey Mudd College |
| CSU Chico | UC San Diego | Loyola Marymount University |
| CSU Dominguez Hills | UC Santa Barbara | Pitzer College |
| CSU East Bay | UC Santa Cruz | Pomona College |
| CSU Fresno | Scripps College | |
| CSU Fullerton | University of La Verne | |
| CSU Long Beach | University of San Diego | |
| CSU Los Angeles | University of Southern California | |
| CSU Monterey Bay | ||
| CSU Northridge | ||
| CSU Sacramento | ||
| CSU San Bernardino | ||
| CSU San Marcos | ||
| San Diego State University | ||
| San Francisco State University | ||
| San José State University |