HERE IS A LIST OF SOME LOCAL UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES.

California State University, Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge; [phone]. The university was founded in 1958, and until 1972 was called San Fernando Valley State College. Annual fee to attend: $2,444 (includes state university fee, student health and association fees, plus other miscellaneous costs.) Student-to-instructor ratio: 20:1. University president: Jolene Koester. Web site address: www.csun.edu.California State University, Channel Islands, 1 University Drive, Camarillo; [phone]. The 670-acre campus, a converted state hospital, opened in fall 2002 as the newest CSU campus. CSUCI serves 2,366 students and offers 10 bachelor's degrees and single- and multiple-subject teaching credentials. Annual fee to attend: $738 (0-6 units); $1,152 (6.1 units or more). Student-to-instructor ratio: N/A. Universitypresident: Richard R. Rush. Web site address: www.csuci.edu.

California State University, Bakersfield, Antelope Valley College Campus, 43909 30th St. W., Lancaster; [phone]. Housed on Antelope Valley College's north campus, CSUB offers bachelor's and master's degree programs, teacher credential programs and other certificate programs. Web site address: www.csubak.edu.

Los Angeles Valley College, 5800 Fulton Ave., Valley Glen; [phone]. The 105-acre campus was founded in 1949 and serves nearly 18,000 students. Associate degrees are offered in such areas as accounting, media arts, respiratory therapy, oceanography and journalism. About 60 occupational certificates also are available. Strong programs of study include administration of justice, nursing and child development. Cost to attend: $18 per unit. Student-to-instructor ratio: 35:1. The transfer rate to two- or four-year colleges: 29.8 percent. College president: Tyree Wieder. Web site address: www.lavc.edu.

Mission College, 13356 Eldridge Ave., Sylmar; [phone]. The newest of the colleges in the Los Angeles Community College District, this 22.5-acre campus was founded in 1975 and serves 7,805 students. Some strong programs include multimedia, administration of justice, child development, life sciences and culinary arts. Cost to attend: $18 per unit. Student-to-instructor ratio: 27:1. Transfer rate: 32.4 percent. College president: Adriana D. Barrera. Web site address: www.lamission.edu.

Pierce College, 6201 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills; [phone]. Founded in 1947, the 426-acre campus serves about 19,500 students. Pierce is noted for its fast-track honors program in which no student completing the program has ever been turned down by the University of California, Los Angeles. The college is on the 15-week semester plan and is one of the largest feeder schools to California State University, Northridge. The college offers more than 100 areas of study, including chemistry, business and technology. Fee to attend: $18 per unit. Student-to-instructor ratio: 38:1. Transfer rate: 29.9 percent. Interim president: Tom Oliver. Web site address: www.piercecollege.edu.

Glendale Community College, 1500 N. Verdugo Road, Glendale; [phone]. Founded in 1927, the 59-acre campus serves 15,870 students and offers special programs such as digital animation, flight training, nursing, a fire academy and free courses designed for seniors. Academic offerings include associate degrees and certificates of completion. Fee to attend: $18 per unit. Student-to-instructor ratio: about 28:1. Transfer rate: 25 percent. College president: John A. Davitt. Web site address: www.glendale.cc.ca.us.

Moorpark College, 7075 Campus Road, Moorpark; [phone]. Founded in 1967, the 134-acre campus serves about 15,000 students. The college offers 1,500 classes in 100 areas of study, including an animal training program offered at only one other college in the nation. Fee to attend: $18 per unit. Student-to-instructor ratio: n/a. Class size ranges 25 to 40. Transfer rate: 18.9 percent. College president: Eva Conrad. Web site address: www.moorparkcollege.edu.

College of the Canyons, 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Valencia; [phone]. Founded in 1969, College of the Canyons is recognized for its technical advancement, professional programs and learning excellence. The college also has a 4,500-square-foot satellite facility in Canyon Country, with four classrooms and a computer lab. Student-to-teacher ratio: 25:1. Transfer rate: 24 percent. College president: Dianne G. Van Hook. Web site address: www.canyons.edu.

Antelope Valley College, 3041 W. Ave. K, Lancaster 93536; [phone]. Antelope Valley College is a California community college that offers more than 60 associate degrees and prepares students for transfer to four-year colleges. Technical, trade, business, allied health and service programs are offered for the occupational student. Interim college president: Jackie Fisher Sr. Web site address is www.avc.edu.

Cerro Coso Community College, 3000 College Heights Blvd., Ridgecrest; [phone]. Cerro Coso is a California community college that offers 25 associate in science and associate in arts degrees. It also offers distance learning degrees through its online program. Web site: www.cerrocoso.edu.

California Lutheran University, 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks; [phone]. The university was founded in 1959 and serves more than 2,900 students. CLU is a 290-acre campus with an emphasis in liberal arts and sciences. Graduate centers are also located in Woodland Hills and Ventura. The college offers 36 majors and 28 minors. Average annual tuition: $20,400 (undergraduate). Student-to-instructor ratio is 15:1. University president: Luther Luedtke. Web site address: www.clunet.edu.

California Institute of the Arts, 24700 McBean Parkway, Valencia; [phone]. Established in 1961 by Walt and Roy Disney, CalArts is the first degree-granting institution of higher learning in the United States created specifically for students of the visual and performing arts. It offers programs in art, music, dance, film/video, theater and creative writing leading to bachelor's or master's degrees. CalArts president: Steven Lavine. Web site address: www.calarts.edu.

Occidental College, 1600 Campus Road, Eagle Rock; [phone]. The college was founded in 1887 and is one of the nation's few leading liberal arts colleges in an urban setting. The 120-acre campus is home to 1,858 students, with the top five major fields of study being psychology, economics, English, diplomacy and world affairs, and art history and the visual arts. Tuition and fees: $35,564 (includes room and board). Student- to-instructor ratio: 11:1. University president: Ted Mitchell. Web site address is www.oxy.edu.

The Master's College, 21726 Placerita Canyon Road,Santa Clarita; [phone]. Founded in 1927 as Los Angeles Baptist Theological Seminary, the 100-acre college was renamed in 1985. The four-year college is a liberal arts school with a biblical world view taught in all courses, which range from accounting to print media to social science and theology. Tuition: $8,500 per semester (full time). Student-to-instructor ratio: 16:1. College president: John MacArthur. Web site address: www.masters.edu.

Woodbury University, 7500 Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank; [phone]. The 22-acre campus was established in 1987 and serves 1,400 students. It offers 15 courses of study, including its flagship programs in business and management and architecture and design. Average tuition: $20,300. Student-to-instructor ratio: 16:1. University president: Kenneth Nielsen. Web site address: www.woodbury.edu.

ITT Technical Institute, 12669 Encinitas Ave., Sylmar; [phone], or [phone]. A career college, ITT's 30,000-square-foot office on 3.5 acres in Sylmar was founded in 1982 and serves about 750 students. The college offers two-year associate degree programs and a bachelor's program. Some of the major courses of study include information technology, computer electronics and digital entertainment and game design. Tuition: $368 per credit hour. Student-to-instructor ratio: 20:1. College president: Nader Mojtabai. Web site address is www.ITT-tech.edu.

University of Phoenix, 5955 DeSoto Ave., Suite 200, Woodland Hills; and 1202 W. Ave. J, Suite 500, Lancaster; [phone]. Geared for the working person, the college is the nation's largest private, accredited university, with more than 100 campuses and learning centers throughout the nation. The 33,000-square-foot Woodland Hills facility offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees; the Lancaster campus, bachelor's and master's. Some of the college's major fields include business, accounting, education, health care and technology. Annual fee to attend: $392 per credit hour (bachelor's degree); $449 per credit hour (master's degree). Student-to-instructor ratio: N/A. Web site address: www.phoenix.edu.

Chapman University, 40015 Sierra Highway, Suite B-160, Palmdale, [phone]; and 140 Methusa Ave. 95, MSS/DPEE, Edwards AFB, [phone]. Programs include psychology, economics, English, social science and criminal justice. Bachelor's and master's degree programs offered. Web site address: www.chapman.edu.

West Coast Baptist College, 4020 E. Lancaster Blvd., Lancaster; [phone]. Some major courses of study include: church ministries for ladies and men, elementary education and music. Web site address: westcoastbaptist.edu.

Biola University, 625 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks; (800) OKBIOLA. The university has a 96-year tradition of biblically centered education. The top five courses of study are education, nursing, communication, biblical studies and psychology. Annual tuition: $18,500 (undergraduate with about 18 units). Student-to-instructor ratio: 20:1. University president: Clyde Cook. Web site address: www.biola.edu.

Phillips Graduate Institute, 5445 Balboa Blvd., Encino 91316; [phone]. Phillips offers unique psychology curriculum including master's degrees in marriage and family therapy, art therapy and school counseling. Tuition: $8,275 (master's program per semester); $8,470 (doctorate program per semester). Student-to-instructor ratio: 13:1. University president: Lisa Porche-Burke. Web site address: www.pgi.edu.