California State University-Northridge
California State University-Northridge — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
California State University-Northridge at a Glance
California State University, Northridge, is a public university in the Northridge neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, United States. With a total enrollment of 36,960 students, it has the fourth largest total student body in the California State University system. The size of CSUN also has a major impact on the California economy, with an estimated $1.9 billion in economic output generated by CSUN on a yearly basis. As of Fall 2025, the university has 2,085 faculty members, of which around …
1958
68 years old
$262M
$262.1 million (2025)
36,960
32,846 undergrad · 4,114 grad
2,085
356 acres
Identity
How to Apply to California State University-Northridge
Official admissions page$70
Fee waiver available
Fee waiver
Is California State University-Northridge Worth It?
California State University-Northridge is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $7,021/year net price and $59,115 median earnings, graduates earn 8.4× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.5 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 57% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 6 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
With a 93% acceptance rate, admission is essentially open — the question isn't whether you'll get in, but whether the investment will pay off.
Bottom line: California State University-Northridge delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How California State University-Northridge compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in CA
Ranked #1 of 56 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California State University-Northridge | 100 | $7,021 | $59,115 |
| #2 | California State University-San Bernardino | 100 | $4,564 | $59,977 |
| #3 | California State University-Fresno | 100 | $7,000 | $61,244 |
| #4 | California State University-Fullerton | 100 | $6,555 | $62,951 |
| #5 | California State University-Los Angeles | 100 | $3,967 | $59,211 |
| #6 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | 100 | $4,831 | $49,620 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of California State University-Northridge's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 10 in CA.
Best Programs at California State University-Northridge
The highest-earning program at California State University-Northridge is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at $88,600/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at $17,800/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduate from California State University-Northridge earns $88,600, while a Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduate earns $17,800. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduates carry $12,500 in median debt vs. $18,577 for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $7,021/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $88,600 | $88,600 | $12,500 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $82,300 | $82,300 | $22,923 |
| Construction Engineering Technologies | $74,200 | $74,200 | $18,375 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $72,400 | $72,400 | $18,500 |
| Computer Science | $68,800 | $68,800 | $18,852 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $64,800 | $64,800 | $21,548 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $58,600 | $58,600 | $14,090 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $52,000 | $52,000 | $13,850 |
| Civil Engineering | $46,800 | $46,800 | $17,900 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $45,400 | $45,400 | $13,677 |
| Operations Research | $44,800 | $44,800 | $13,750 |
| Economics | $40,700 | $40,700 | $15,346 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $38,600 | $38,600 | $14,000 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $37,900 | $37,900 | $13,344 |
| Marketing | $36,900 | $36,900 | $15,000 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | $36,000 | $36,000 | $16,500 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $35,900 | $35,900 | $13,250 |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | $33,000 | $33,000 | $11,038 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $32,200 | $32,200 | $13,875 |
| Social Work | $31,900 | $31,900 | $13,491 |
| Public Health | $31,600 | $31,600 | $14,883 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $31,500 | $31,500 | $15,500 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $31,000 | $31,000 | $14,000 |
| Sociology | $30,900 | $30,900 | $12,500 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $30,000 | $30,000 | $10,843 |
| Geography and Cartography | $27,400 | $27,400 | $15,598 |
| Journalism | $27,200 | $27,200 | $15,341 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General | $26,800 | $26,800 | $16,978 |
| Political Science and Government | $26,700 | $26,700 | $14,714 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $26,600 | $26,600 | $14,000 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $26,300 | $26,300 | $16,433 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $26,100 | $26,100 | $16,500 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $25,700 | $25,700 | $15,000 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $25,700 | $25,700 | $15,000 |
| Psychology, General | $25,700 | $25,700 | $13,000 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $25,500 | $25,500 | $14,500 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $25,400 | $25,400 | $11,619 |
| Biology, General | $24,300 | $24,300 | $17,505 |
| History | $24,000 | $24,000 | $14,000 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $22,600 | $22,600 | $13,888 |
| Anthropology | $21,400 | $21,400 | $16,386 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $21,400 | $21,400 | $18,750 |
| Music | $19,700 | $19,700 | $17,196 |
| Philosophy | $19,600 | $19,600 | $14,102 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $17,800 | $17,800 | $18,577 |
Similar Colleges in CA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Northridge, CA
- Student Body
- 32,691 students
- Admission Rate
- 93%
- Graduation Rate
- 57%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $7,021
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $59,115
- Median Student Debt
- $13,872