California State University-Northridge
Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology
Quick Stats
Earnings, Debt & Completion
What happens to students who enroll at California State University-Northridge, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
Typical debt at graduation equals about 23% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 44th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (CA wage index 1.21). This drives the Outcome Rating.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.
Earnings by Major at California State University-Northridge
Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.
| Major | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | vs. national | Rank (pay) | Rank (wage-adj.) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $106,780 | $116,613 | +31% | #37 of 966 | #70 | $15,041 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $100,724 | $105,747 | +49% | #19 of 253 | #27 | $18,875 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $75,207 | $104,065 | +3% | #71 of 258 | #196 | $16,382 |
| Computer Science | $62,821 | $101,348 | -5% | #162 of 349 | #237 | $16,250 |
| Computer Engineering | $75,692 | $101,021 | -7% | #115 of 189 | #158 | $18,346 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $71,359 | $99,216 | +8% | #46 of 318 | #193 | $17,000 |
| Civil Engineering | $62,768 | $97,123 | +12% | #12 of 233 | #93 | $19,834 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $68,904 | $92,329 | +21% | #96 of 796 | #212 | $15,007 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $55,931 | $91,131 | -1% | #184 of 459 | #278 | $18,000 |
| Construction Engineering Technology/Technician | $79,352 | $89,804 | -4% | #25 of 43 | #40 | — |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $58,733 | $88,999 | +7% | #57 of 166 | #89 | $21,125 |
| Public Administration | $76,049 | $85,789 | +32% | #4 of 47 | #4 | $36,442 |
| Chemistry | $44,874 | $79,878 | +23% | #17 of 209 | #41 | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $48,553 | $74,656 | -10% | #268 of 452 | #382 | $12,500 |
| Operations Research | $53,677 | $74,344 | -39% | — | — | $15,998 |
| Biotechnology | $42,712 | $73,542 | +10% | #9 of 13 | #9 | $20,618 |
| Economics | $35,628 | $72,890 | -12% | #239 of 368 | #297 | $12,500 |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | $46,826 | $72,148 | +15% | #7 of 30 | #7 | $11,987 |
| Geography and Cartography | $27,002 | $69,323 | +20% | #16 of 117 | #35 | $12,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $43,714 | $65,760 | -4% | #545 of 1176 | #852 | $14,175 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $22,310 | $65,188 | +11% | #42 of 215 | #126 | $15,823 |
| Marketing | $37,016 | $64,373 | -7% | #308 of 516 | #438 | $13,350 |
| Mathematics | $38,598 | $63,077 | -9% | #226 of 309 | #269 | $11,000 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $44,779 | $60,740 | +3% | #123 of 275 | #185 | $14,250 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $34,838 | $59,940 | +23% | #9 of 62 | #14 | $20,335 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $36,736 | $59,676 | +16% | #84 of 299 | #134 | — |
| Biology | $29,506 | $59,100 | +3% | #372 of 841 | #585 | $15,000 |
| Political Science and Government | $32,014 | $57,527 | -9% | #386 of 565 | #487 | $14,000 |
| Real Estate | $35,879 | $57,174 | -33% | #24 of 25 | #24 | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | $30,794 | $57,138 | +1% | #239 of 660 | #406 | $13,999 |
| Public Health | $39,011 | $55,989 | -5% | #120 of 215 | #166 | $13,744 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences | $33,721 | $55,327 | +14% | #6 of 49 | #18 | $16,375 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | $47,315 | $55,096 | -17% | #32 of 35 | #34 | $19,349 |
| Sociology | $34,093 | $54,500 | +4% | #176 of 462 | #296 | $12,500 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $34,870 | $54,169 | -2% | #345 of 660 | #554 | $11,000 |
| Journalism | $30,564 | $53,351 | -5% | #111 of 187 | #156 | $14,311 |
| Area Studies | $26,793 | $53,077 | -6% | #47 of 70 | #48 | — |
| Social Work | $34,447 | $52,988 | +2% | #178 of 420 | #366 | $12,449 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $33,324 | $52,772 | -1% | #238 of 476 | #366 | $14,255 |
| Religion/Religious Studies | $23,219 | $51,235 | +24% | #18 of 45 | #25 | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $26,767 | $50,708 | -2% | #58 of 103 | #70 | $15,000 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $27,952 | $50,663 | -7% | #384 of 610 | #545 | $14,865 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $25,340 | $50,644 | -11% | #101 of 137 | #127 | $15,000 |
| Psychology | $28,603 | $49,792 | -2% | #523 of 1027 | #834 | $12,712 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $27,278 | $49,359 | -2% | #82 of 158 | #127 | $14,244 |
| Philosophy | $20,822 | $48,566 | -11% | #70 of 86 | #74 | — |
| English Language and Literature | $27,452 | $47,660 | -2% | #326 of 576 | #452 | $16,840 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $27,290 | $46,913 | +7% | #56 of 144 | #89 | $18,250 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $46,489 | — | — | — | — | — |
| History | $37,031 | $45,821 | -10% | #359 of 459 | #430 | $15,000 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.
The California State University-Northridge Town Property Report
- Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 91306 (2.8% cap, Los Angeles)
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🏆 Where California State University-Northridge Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition & Fees
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $5,742 | $17,622 |
| Room | $7,573 | |
| Board | $5,098 | |
| Total Cost (On-Campus) | $24,271 | $36,151 |
Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $5,153 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $6,277 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $8,897 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $13,510 |
| $110,001+ | $18,688 |
Programs & Career Paths
Top Degree Programs
Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.
Related Career Paths
Careers that graduates from California State University-Northridge's top programs commonly pursue.
Student Demographics
👥 Race & Ethnicity
🏠 Living Arrangements
💻 Learning Mode
📊 Age Distribution
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at California State University-Northridge?
How much does it cost to attend California State University-Northridge?
What is the graduation rate at California State University-Northridge?
Is California State University-Northridge a good school?
- Outcomes (B): Graduation and retention rates
- Affordability (B+): Net cost and financial aid access
- Resources (C): Class sizes and selectivity
- Experience (B+): Campus life and learning format
- Prestige (C): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend California State University-Northridge?
Is there rental demand near California State University-Northridge?
Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for California State University-Northridge — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →
🎓 Similar Colleges to California State University-Northridge
Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.
Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology