The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), founded in 1919, has more than 40,000 registered students. It's considered a public research university, which means that it is publicly funded and encourages research as one of its primary objectives. Both domestic and international students attend the university, and 91 percent of students graduate or remain in good standing after four years at the university. UCLA is also known for its athletics; the Bruins are especially competitive in football and basketball.
The University of Southern California (USC) was founded in Los Angeles in 1880 with 53 students and 10 teachers. It is the oldest private research university in the West. According to the university, it enrolls the most international students of any school in the United States, and it also offers its students a number of opportunities to study abroad. The Trojan Marching Band has performed at the Academy Awards and the Rose Parade, and in numerous film and television productions. The university has two main campuses -- the University Park campus downtown, and the Health Sciences campus, which is northeast of downtown Los Angeles.
California State University, Los Angeles (CSU) is located near the L.A. civic and cultural center. When it was established in 1947, it was called Los Angeles State College. It was renamed California State University in 1964, at which time it became a part of the California State college system. The university has a student population of more than 20,000 and runs for the full year on a quarter system. The university is divided into six colleges and 50 departments.
California Trinity University (CTU) was founded as an oriental medicine and acupuncture school in 1994 before expanding in 2008, adding schools in technology, criminal justice, language and alternative medicine. The private university, located in central LA, welcomes both domestic and foreign students, offering undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as a vocational program.