Public · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Large city

California State University-Northridge

Northridge, California. 32,691 undergraduates. Admits 93% of applicants.

57%Graduation rate2 pts above the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$6,346Average net price per year68% below the national median for similar colleges ($19,899)
$63,721Median earnings 10 years after starting8% above the national median for similar colleges ($58,912)
$15,000Median debt at graduation31% below the national median for similar colleges ($21,609)
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($15,000) equals 24% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($63,721). That is a light load relative to pay.

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$4,429
$30,000–$48,000$4,460
$48,001–$75,000$5,948
$75,001–$110,000$9,780
Over $110,000$17,634

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $7,850 in-state, $21,170 out-of-state.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate57%54%
Return for second year73%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$50,095$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$63,721$58,912
Median debt at graduation$15,000$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

139 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing125$107,276$121,302$21,401
Computer Science235$64,914$117,902$15,500
Computer Engineering35$84,485$110,617—
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions21$103,066$108,672$19,500
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering59$80,093$108,102$12,500
Civil Engineering88$72,768$106,167$17,625
Computer and Information Sciences, General114$62,281$102,018$16,404
Mechanical Engineering189$75,759$101,918$14,198
Accounting and Related Services245$74,096$92,437$18,750
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician31$90,668——
Public Administration26$84,412$87,894$37,500
Management Information Systems and Services—$53,714$85,546—
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology——$82,737—
Chemistry22—$81,536—
Operations Research——$80,693—
Real Estate—$42,526$80,263$18,871
Economics79$47,399$78,939$13,000
Urban Studies/Affairs29—$77,786—
Finance and Financial Management Services17$55,572$76,530$15,000
Biology, General261$33,664$71,918$16,500
Business Administration, Management and Operations1,231$50,898$71,241$12,937
Marketing105$44,378$69,530$11,497
Geography and Cartography26—$68,173—
Biotechnology—$49,430$66,779$16,500
Design and Applied Arts13$38,152$66,604$15,750
Public Health181$44,294$66,144$15,000
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services112$30,813$65,489$17,750
Health and Medical Administrative Services115$47,298$64,770$12,500
Religion/Religious Studies8—$63,522—
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences—$44,764$62,665—
Communication and Media Studies220$39,561$61,808$14,533
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities255$40,504$61,370$11,750
Political Science and Government176$38,484$60,182$18,500
Journalism95$41,557$60,164$15,250
Mathematics48$40,239$60,139—
Social Work——$59,125—
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General114$38,153$58,217$18,750
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness340$34,031$57,326$11,250
Philosophy23$31,758$57,108—
History67$35,987$55,449$18,211
Sociology381$40,801$55,310$13,533
Psychology, General1,045$34,217$53,427$12,500
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies172$33,237$52,601$16,250
English Language and Literature, General145$32,774$52,241$16,732
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication426$34,411$51,788$13,686
Film/Video and Photographic Arts—$31,506$51,765$12,184
Fine and Studio Arts320$27,943$51,743$15,779
Hospitality Administration/Management33$41,741$51,364—
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services—$33,837$49,851$12,500
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology19$49,811——
Anthropology42$28,343$48,423$10,500
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics23$28,533$44,223—
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services26—$42,802—
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication—$41,882—$10,844
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft38$25,667$40,599$18,500
Applied Mathematics—$40,374——
Criminal Justice and Corrections396$40,326—$12,211
Music102$28,903$39,626$14,500
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology—$37,507——
Natural Resources Conservation and Research14———
Area Studies8———
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods383———
Manufacturing Engineering8———
Engineering-Related Fields9———
Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies2———
Apparel and Textiles10———
Nutrition Sciences24———
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other12———
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences6———
Physics9———

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

93%Admission rate
25:1Students per faculty member
61%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

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Quick answers

How much does California State University-Northridge cost per year?
The average net price at California State University-Northridge, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $6,346 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do California State University-Northridge graduates earn?
Former California State University-Northridge students earn a median of $63,721 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at California State University-Northridge?
57% of California State University-Northridge students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do California State University-Northridge graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from California State University-Northridge is $15,000. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.