California State University Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
California State University-Northridge is a public research university in Northridge, California, enrolling about 32,691 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 93.45% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $59,115 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $7,458
- 2024 Average Net Price: $7,021 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 93.45% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 32,691 84.4% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 56.95%
- Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
- First-Generation Students: 53.9%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 0.4% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 8.4% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 43.2%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 36,149
- Applicants (IPEDS): 29,789
- Room & Board: $13,804 annual estimate
California State University-Northridge: what the data shows
Common questions about California State University-Northridge, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is California State University-Northridge?
California State University-Northridge is located in Northridge, CA (ZIP 91330).
NCES locale classification: City.
Is California State University-Northridge public or private?
California State University-Northridge is a Public institution.
How much does California State University-Northridge cost?
Published tuition: $7,458 in-state, $20,058 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $7,021.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $4,905 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $5,450 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $7,744 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $11,262 |
| $110,001+ | $18,040 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $29,832.
How hard is it to get into California State University-Northridge?
Admission rate: 93.45%.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is California State University-Northridge?
Total enrollment: 32,691 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 36,149 students.
Graduate enrollment: 5,557 students.
About 84% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at California State University-Northridge?
150%-time completion rate: 56.95%.
First-year retention: 73.4%.
What do graduates of California State University-Northridge earn?
Median earnings: $44,372 six years after entry; $59,115 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $13,872.
56.07% of students receive Pell grants.
What is California State University-Northridge known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Business Administration and Management, General (1,280 completions)
- Psychology, General (1,057 completions)
- Radio and Television (426 completions)
- Criminal Justice/Safety Studies (396 completions)
- Sociology, General (389 completions)
- Early Childhood Education & Teaching (383 completions)
- Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General (351 completions)
- Art/Art Studies, General (326 completions)
- Computer Science (316 completions)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General (280 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is California State University-Northridge a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 93.45%; completion rate 56.95%; median earnings $59,115 at 10 years; net price $7,021. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$7,458
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at California State University-Northridge was $7,458.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$7,021
2024 Value
In 2024 California State University-Northridge had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $7,021.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$28,084 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$7,021 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$29,832 4-Year In-State Tuition
$80,232 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$13,804 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,338 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$22,600 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$90,400 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for California State University-Northridge.
Financial Aid by Income Level
56.07% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
21.39% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at California State University-Northridge was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for California State University-Northridge in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $6,525 | $17,685 | $11,439 |
| 2014 | $6,549 | $17,709 | $8,918 |
| 2015 | $6,569 | $17,729 | $6,797 |
| 2016 | $6,587 | $17,747 | $6,569 |
| 2017 | $6,875 | $18,755 | $5,703 |
| 2018 | $6,893 | $18,773 | $8,243 |
| 2019 | $6,977 | $18,857 | $8,414 |
| 2020 | $7,017 | $18,897 | $8,523 |
| 2021 | $7,043 | $18,923 | $7,944 |
| 2022 | $7,069 | $18,949 | $8,293 |
| 2023 | $7,095 | $18,975 | $7,599 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
93.45% Acceptance Rate
29,789 Total Applicants
27,748 Students Admitted
5,545 First-Time Students Enrolled
19.98% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
California State University-Northridge reported total enrollment of about 32,691 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 47% male and 53% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Hispanic or Latino (57.9%), White (18.0%), and Asian (8.7%). About 56.07% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 53.9% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
84.4% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at California State University-Northridge in 2024 is 32,691 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 36,149 students. Graduate enrollment is about 5,557 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
73.4%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is Hispanic or Latino at 57.9%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
27.81% 100% Completion Time
56.95% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 27.81% of students graduating from California State University-Northridge completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business Administration and Management, General: 56% male / 44% female
- Psychology, General: 23% male / 77% female
- Radio and Television: 60% male / 40% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: Hispanic or Latino.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for California State University-Northridge.
Return on Investment
$13,872 Median Student Debt
$59,115 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
23.47% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
2004.94% Return on Investment
2.3 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for California State University-Northridge.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 104 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Business Administration and Management, General: 1,280 completions
2. Psychology, General: 1,057 completions
3. Radio and Television: 426 completions
4. Criminal Justice/Safety Studies: 396 completions
5. Sociology, General: 389 completions
6. Early Childhood Education & Teaching: 383 completions
7. Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General: 351 completions
8. Art/Art Studies, General: 326 completions
9. Computer Science: 316 completions
Most popular programs at California State University-Northridge.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for California State University-Northridge graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for California State University-Northridge from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 43.2%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $12,456
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $8,003
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
California State University-Northridge is a public institution located in Northridge, CA, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Business Administration and Management, General, Psychology, General, Radio and Television. Enrollment is approximately 32,691 students. Student body composition includes Hispanic or Latino (57.9%), White (18.0%), Asian (8.7%). The admission rate is 93.45%. The 150%-time completion rate is 56.95%. Approximately 56.07% of students receive Pell Grants. About 53.9% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
Location
Northridge, CA 91330
Region: Far West
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 104 distinct degree programs, California State University-Northridge provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is California State University-Northridge located?
California State University-Northridge is located in Northridge, CA.
What is California State University-Northridge's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at California State University-Northridge is 93.5% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 29,789 applicants and 27,748 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does California State University-Northridge cost?
Reported tuition is $7,458 and average net price is $7,021 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $13,804 annually.
What is the student body demographics at California State University-Northridge?
California State University-Northridge reports undergraduate enrollment of about 36,149 students, Hispanic or Latino (57.9%), White (18.0%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend California State University-Northridge?
About 53.9% of students at California State University-Northridge are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of California State University-Northridge earn?
Median earnings are $44,372 six years after entry and $59,115 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at California State University-Northridge?
The 150%-time completion rate is 57.0% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do California State University-Northridge students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $13,872.
Is California State University-Northridge public or private?
California State University-Northridge is a public institution located in Northridge, CA.
Is California State University-Northridge an HBCU?
No. California State University-Northridge is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is California State University-Northridge a tribal college?
No. California State University-Northridge is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is California State University-Northridge a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—California State University-Northridge reports 57.9% Hispanic enrollment share.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- Far West regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in California
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.