The California State University ( CSU ) is a public university system established in 1857 in California . It is one of three public higher education systems in the state , the other two being the University of California system and the California Community College system . Some critics , including Donald Gerth ( a former President of California State University , Sacramento ) , have claimed that the weak California State University identity has contributed to the CSU 's perceived lack of prestige when compared to the University of California .