Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
California State University, Northridge is a public regional university located in Northridge, California. CSUN is very inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at CSUN is in the top 10% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $53,360 10 years after enrolling, 65th in California, and in the top 50% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, CSUN bachelor students earn 3% less than the national average. CSUN is ranked 22nd in California.
California State University, Northridge’s median net annual cost of $8,523 and average years to graduate of 4.9 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at CSUN sorted by number of graduates - Psychology, Business Administration, Sociology, Health & Fitness, Broadcast & Digital Comms, Public Health - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$8,523
Average years to graduate
4.9
Computer Science
Rank: #27
Economic score: 0.76
Accounting
Rank: #9
Economic score: 0.82
Mechanical Engineering
Rank: #10
Economic score: 0.82
Health Administrative Services
Rank: #11
Economic score: 1.56
Marketing
Rank: #33
Economic score: 1.82
Finance
Rank: #78
Economic score: 2.03
Comms & Media Studies
Rank: #31
Economic score: 2.41
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Rank: #22
Economic score: 2.59
Biology
Rank: #117
Economic score: 3.95
Fine & Studio Arts
Rank: #78
Economic score: 6.24
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at CSUN - Public Administration, Social Work, Student Counseling, Communication disorder sciences, Public Health, Educ. Administration - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Business Administration
Rank: #95
Economic score: 0.27
Special Education
Rank: #14
Economic score: 0.3
Accounting
Rank: #178
Economic score: 0.35
Taxation
Rank: #17
Economic score: 0.38
Clinical / Counseling Psych
Rank: #14
Economic score: 0.38
Comms & Media Studies
Rank: #23
Economic score: 0.66
Civil Engineering
Rank: #60
Economic score: 0.69
Music
Rank: #23
Economic score: 0.77
Drama
Rank: #16
Economic score: 1.05
English Language & Lit
Rank: #42
Economic score: 1.06
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.9 years. 69% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at CSUN is 2% higher than the state average, and 12% above the average for all regional universities in the country.
At CSUN, Pell Grant recipients represent 57% of the measured graduating class, 22% higher than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at CSUN graduates within 5 years.
CSUN is in the top 5% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
California State University, Northridge’s economic mobility score of 51.59 is calculated by adjusting the 1.14 economic score of lower-income students by the 57% pell grant recipients within the student body. CSUN’s EMS of 51.59 ranks in the top 5% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 5%
The average Title IV recipient at California State University, Northridge pays $8,523 a year, $14,794 less than the $23,317 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $8,523
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At CSUN, 82% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $8,523 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 15% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $5,134. This is 39% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$4,779
Pell grants
$4,966
State grants
$2,467
Institutional grants
$5,789
California State University, Northridge offers 1 exclusively online program. At the master’s level CSUN offers 11 programs, 5 of which are held exclusively online. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
12
Hybrid programs
6
Percentage of programs online
8%
California State University, Northridge's very inclusive admissions are indicated by their 88% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 23,656 applicants, of which 20,842 were admitted and 4,716 enrolled. CSUN has a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed as they arrive until all spaces are filled.
Full time
88%
83%
Female
58%
59%
First time
52%
59%
In-state
98%
68%
1st generation
54%
35%
White
21%
52%
Black
5%
14%
Hispanic
53%
15%
Asian
9%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
13%
12%