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California State University-Northridge

Public Graduate Strong 76/100

California State University-Northridge

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Northridge, California

About California State University-Northridge

California State University-Northridge is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Northridge, California. It enrolls 32,691 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: csun.edu

Acceptance: 93.5%
Graduation: 64.1%
Net Price: $7,021
Median Earnings (10yr): $59,115
Enrollment: 32,691
Student : Faculty: 21:1

Accreditor Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong

76/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 45

Value 98

Affordability 93

Selectivity 13

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 93.5%, California State University-Northridge is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate

93.5%

Open

SAT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

ACT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

Test Policy Test Optional Applicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether California State University-Northridge is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Becoming less selective ↑ 33.8 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending California State University-Northridge isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $7,021 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$7,021

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

56%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

21%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state): $7,458
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state): $20,058
Room & Board (on-campus): $13,804
Room & Board (off-campus): $21,350
Books & Supplies: $1,338
Other Expenses (on-campus): $3,390
Other Expenses (off-campus): $5,616
Total Cost of Attendance: $20,485

Application fee: $70 (one-time, due at submission)

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$4,905
$30,001 – $48,000

$5,450
$48,001 – $75,000

$7,744
$75,001 – $110,000

$11,262
Over $110,000

$18,040

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$3,250

10% percentile

$5,500

25% percentile

$13,872

Median percentile

$20,000

75% percentile

$29,250

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $11,075 ↓ $2,797

No Pell $13,000 ↓ $872

Dependent students $10,947 ↓ $2,925

Independent students $12,500 ↓ $1,372

Female students $11,708 ↓ $2,164

Male students $12,000 ↓ $1,872

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,235, less than completers ($13,872), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

64% of full-time students who enrolled at California State University-Northridge graduate within six years, and 74% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

64%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

74%

Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered California State University-Northridge earn a median of $59,115 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$59,115

Earning > $25K

78%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$46,900

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$54,200

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$48,400

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$50,800

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$51,900

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $7,300, about 13% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 14.1 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Strong. 80% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

California State University-Northridge is home to 32,691 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 54% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled

32,691

Part-Time

16%

First-Generation

54%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

Hispanic 57.9% 18,931

White 18.0% 5,891

Asian 8.7% 2,857

Black 5.6% 1,827

Other 3.5% 1,144

International 2.9% 935

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at California State University-Northridge. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Large City Northridge, California

Housing

Limited on-campus housing 3,253 beds

Adult Learners

20% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

Designation

Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)

What You Can Study

California State University-Northridge offers an extensive catalog of programs: 112 distinct programs across 25 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

9 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Accounting $76K ($56K–$97K)
Marketing $69K ($50K–$93K)

11 Programs

Health

Public Health $59K ($42K–$79K)
Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Health Administration $59K ($42K–$80K)

4 Programs

Communication

Radio, Television & Digital Media $50K ($34K–$70K)
Communication & Media $56K ($40K–$76K)
Journalism $56K ($41K–$74K)

7 Programs

Visual & Performing Arts

Fine Arts $41K ($26K–$57K)
Music $43K ($26K–$59K)
Music $43K ($26K–$59K)

11 Programs

Engineering

Mechanical Engineering $92K ($78K–$109K)
Civil Engineering $87K ($74K–$101K)
Electrical Engineering $101K ($85K–$122K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at California State University-Northridge is 21:1, on the higher side.

Student : Faculty

21:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$7,297

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$217M

Solid financial position

Avg Faculty Salary

$99,821

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

918 instructional faculty across 5 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	381	42%	$114,996
Associate Professors	190	21%	$102,077
Assistant Professors	144	16%	$93,691
Lecturers	193	21%	$69,305
No Rank	10	1%	$155,980

Pros & Cons of California State University-Northridge

A quick at-a-glance summary of how California State University-Northridge tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Very affordable net price after aid
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Wide variety of programs and student life
Solid post-graduation earnings
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body

CONS

Larger class sizes than typical
Large institutional setting can feel impersonal
Modest first-year retention

Best for: Based on the data, California State University-Northridge is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; students who want a large campus with breadth and variety.

Frequently Asked Questions about California State University-Northridge

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about California State University-Northridge.

Is California State University-Northridge hard to get into?

California State University-Northridge has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 93.5%.

What is the acceptance rate at California State University-Northridge?

California State University-Northridge has an acceptance rate of 93.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

How much does California State University-Northridge cost?

The average net price after aid at California State University-Northridge is $7,021 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is California State University-Northridge worth it?

Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $59,115 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $7,021 per year. That's roughly 8.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is California State University-Northridge known for?

California State University-Northridge is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Psychology, Criminal Justice. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do California State University-Northridge graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering California State University-Northridge are $59,115, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is California State University-Northridge accredited?

Yes. California State University-Northridge is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.

How many students attend California State University-Northridge?

California State University-Northridge enrolls 32,691 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at California State University-Northridge?

California State University-Northridge graduates 64% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is California State University-Northridge a public or private college?

California State University-Northridge is a Public institution.

Where is California State University-Northridge located?

California State University-Northridge is located in Northridge, California.

What programs does California State University-Northridge offer?

California State University-Northridge offers 112 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Psychology, Criminal Justice.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at California State University-Northridge?

The student-to-faculty ratio at California State University-Northridge is 21:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.