California State University-Northridge
- Graduation Rate
- 57% C
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $59,115 B+
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $7,021 A-
- 59% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 93% D
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 62.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $62.1 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $62.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,715,312.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Earnings 45% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $62.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why California State University-Northridge Matters
California State University-Northridge is a public university in Northridge, CA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 32,691
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Psychology, Communications, Social Sciences
Why students choose California State University-Northridge
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 93% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $7,021 a year after grants and scholarships — 59% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $59,115 ten years after enrolling — 45% above the typical college, against $13,872 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.50 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
California State University-Northridge has a striking acceptance rate of 93%. This means students have a high chance of securing a spot in a school that supports a diverse population of nearly 33,000 undergraduates. The campus is a hub for students interested in fields like Business, Psychology, and Health Professions.
Chetty/Opportunity Insights data shows that CSUN plays a significant role in economic mobility for its graduates. While specific mobility rates are not available, the university's diverse student body and strong focus on practical career preparation suggest positive outcomes for many students. Graduates see a 10-year earning average of $59,115, indicating a solid return on their educational investment.
With a net price of $7,021 and a median debt of $13,872, CSUN remains accessible for many students, particularly those receiving Pell Grants, which make up 56% of the student population. This financial profile, combined with a welcoming campus environment, creates a space where students from various backgrounds can thrive. The university is an ideal choice for those looking for affordability alongside a pathway to stable careers.
Rankings
- #18 Best Education Colleges in California
- #20 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in California
- #20 Best Colleges for Low-Income Students
- #28 Most Affordable Colleges for Communications
- #29 Best Engineering Colleges in California
- #30 Colleges With the Highest ROI
- #30 Best Communications Colleges in California
- #34 Most Affordable Colleges in California
Can I Get In?
How selective California State University-Northridge is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into California State University-Northridge? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Northridge, California, California State University-Northridge admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 93%. The graduation rate is roughly 57%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 93%
- Retention Rate
- 73%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 43%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $12,456
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 24:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.62
- First-Gen Students
- 54%
- Applicants
- 25,965
- Admitted
- 23,687
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend California State University-Northridge? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at California State University-Northridge is $20,058, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $7,021. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,905 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $13,872 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $7,458
- Out-of-State
- $20,058
- Avg Net Price
- $7,021
- Median Debt
- $13,872
- Pell Grant Rate
- 56%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 21%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $4,905
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $5,450
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $7,744
- Family Income $110K+
- $18,040
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at California State University-Northridge — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is California State University-Northridge Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of California State University-Northridge earn a median of $59,115, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $44,372
- 8 Years
- $51,871
- 10 Years
- $59,115
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.23x
- Earning > $25K
- 63%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (808)
- 15%
- 100% (808)
- 15%
- 100% (808)
- 15%
- 100% (808)
- 15%
How California Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is California State University-Northridge Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, California State University-Northridge delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $7,021/year ($28,084 total). Graduates earn $59,115 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,743,396 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,715,312 (62.1× your investment). The median debt is $13,872, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 57% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $28,084
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,743,396
- Net Return
- $1,715,312
- ROI Multiple
- 62.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $7,021
- Median Debt
- $13,872
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 57%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-28,815,644
Top Programs
The fields California State University-Northridge awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 18% $72,726 early-career
- Psychology 12% $31,495 early-career
- Communications 10% $41,658 early-career
- Social Sciences 9% $48,296 early-career
- Health Professions 8% $109,461 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 7% $36,562 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 5% $89,170 early-career
- Engineering 4% $86,821 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for California State University-Northridge's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into California State University-Northridge? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Northridge, California, California State University-Northridge admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 93%. The graduation rate is roughly 57%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend California State University-Northridge? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at California State University-Northridge is $20,058, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $7,021. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,905 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $13,872 in federal student loans.
Is California State University-Northridge Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of California State University-Northridge earn a median of $59,115, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is California State University-Northridge? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at California State University-Northridge. Its economic connectedness score is 1.50, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to California State University-Northridge.
- California State University-FresnoFresno, CA · Close peer56% grad $61,244 earn 95% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- California State University-FullertonFullerton, CA · Close peer70% grad $62,951 earn 91% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- California State University-SacramentoSacramento, CA · Close peer56% grad $64,876 earn 94% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- The University of Texas at San AntonioSan Antonio, TX · Close peer52% grad $57,131 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- California State University-Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA · Close peer53% grad $59,211 earn 91% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Brigham Young University-IdahoRexburg, ID · Close peer55% grad $53,406 earn 96% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is California State University-Northridge? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at California State University-Northridge. Its economic connectedness score is 1.50, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note