California State University-Northridge
About
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 37% are tenured or on the tenure-track.
Admissions & acceptance rate
First-time freshman admissions: how selective the college is, and how many admitted students choose to enroll.
Graduation rate & outcomes
Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.
Pell equity
Non-Pell students graduate at a 3.0-point higher rate than Pell recipients.
Program outcomes
Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.
Of 155 Title IV programs, 76 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 2 fail. 77 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.
Pass / fail distribution
- Passing76 · 49.0%
- No Data77 · 49.7%
- Failing2 · 1.3%
Severity spectrum
Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.
Earnings premium gap
Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.
Near the line (±5%)
Programs within five points of the pass line, one cohort year from flipping.
Debt vs earnings
Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.
Accreditation status & history
Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.
WASC Senior College and University Commission
Programmatic accreditations · 14
Action history · 17
- Jul 2025Renewal of AccreditationAcademy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics · Didactic Program in Dietetics
- Jul 2024Renewal of AccreditationAcademy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics · Dietetics (DIETI) - Dietetic Internship
- Apr 2024Renewal of AccreditationCommission on Collegiate Nursing Education · Nursing (CNURED) - Nursing education programs at the baccalaureate degree levels
- Jul 2023Renewal of AccreditationAcademy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics · Didactic Program in Dietetics
- Aug 2022Renewal of AccreditationJoint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology · Radiologic Technology (RAD) - Programs for radiographers
Tuition & cost
What families actually pay, broken down by family income.
Net price by family income
Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.
Federal aid volume & trends
Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.
In AY 2024–25, 21,390 students received $128.4M in Pell grants, alongside $89.6M in federal Direct Loans.
Pell recipients · 5-year trend
Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25
Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.
Student loan default rate
The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.
Of 6,752 borrowers who entered repayment, 118 (1.7%) defaulted within three years — below the 2.3% national rate.
Default rate vs national, by cohort
* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.
Academic programs at CSUN
Top program areas ranked by completions.
Top program families by completions
Enrollment trends & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Gender split
Race / ethnicity composition
Athletics & Title IX gender equity
How athletic participation, aid, and spending are split between men and women.
Men vs women · spending splits
Sport-by-sport · 10
Campus safety & crime statistics
Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.
3-year trend
Criminal offenses by type
By location
- On campus25
- Non-campus1
- Public property2
Includes 6 in residence halls (a subset of on-campus, not added to the total).
VAWA offenses
Hate crimes by bias
No hate crimes reported.
Arrests vs disciplinary referrals
Residence-hall fires
- UPA-6 Pacific Willow Hall1 firecigarette smokingDamage $100-$999
- UPA-10 Valley Oak Hall1 fireElectricalDamage $1,000-$9,999
- UPA-20 Ironwood Hall1 fireDamage $100-$999
Data quality: 2 reports were later determined unfounded across the reporting period and are excluded from the totals above.
Student-faculty ratio
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
CSUN vs Peer comparison
The peer institutions CSUN selected for federal comparison reporting.
A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.
| Carnegie | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SubjectCalifornia State University-Northridge | 57% | — | 38,313 | $7,599 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
| 59% | 87.2% | 27,198 | $19,182 | R2 Research | |
| 57% | 95.3% | 24,427 | $6,480 | R2 Research | |
| 70% | 90.5% | 43,662 | $5,646 | R2 Research | |
| 69% | 46.3% | 42,003 | $8,931 | R2 Research | |
| 53% | 91.3% | 23,163 | $4,113 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 56% | 94.0% | 31,943 | $10,512 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 55% | 93.7% | 18,492 | $5,918 | R2 Research | |
| 72% | 47.5% | 20,081 | $2,978 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 54% | 58.4% | 14,390 | $2,943 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 57% | 53.8% | 22,538 | $2,446 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 53% | 64.3% | 15,965 | $3,830 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 46% | 79.6% | 12,631 | $17,084 | R2 Research | |
| 58% | 90.5% | 24,360 | $17,502 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 65% | 87.9% | 23,375 | $14,159 | R2 Research | |
| 39% | 94.8% | 10,732 | $14,485 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 50% | 96.4% | 22,563 | $12,882 | R2 Research | |
| 69% | 84.6% | 37,661 | $13,741 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 55% | 89.3% | 40,674 | $16,438 | R2 Research | |
| 53% | 86.8% | 35,770 | $11,234 | R1 Research | |
| 51% | 94.2% | 33,881 | $6,500 | R2 Research | |
| 69% | 82.0% | 19,401 | $16,791 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 28% | 66.5% | 10,493 | $13,780 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 37% | 78.1% | 12,554 | $18,990 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 69% | 79.6% | 31,091 | $14,745 | R2 Research | |
| Peer group median | 56% | 87.0% | 23,375 | $11,234 |
Institutions like CSUN
Explore the federal data for institutions in CSUN's comparison group.
- R2 ResearchIdaho
Boise State University
Grad rate59%Admit rate87.2%Enrollment27,198Net price$19,182View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
California State University-Fresno
Grad rate57%Admit rate95.3%Enrollment24,427Net price$6,480View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
California State University-Fullerton
Grad rate70%Admit rate90.5%Enrollment43,662Net price$5,646View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
California State University-Long Beach
Grad rate69%Admit rate46.3%Enrollment42,003Net price$8,931View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsCalifornia
California State University-Los Angeles
Grad rate53%Admit rate91.3%Enrollment23,163Net price$4,113View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsCalifornia
California State University-Sacramento
Grad rate56%Admit rate94.0%Enrollment31,943Net price$10,512View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
California State University-San Bernardino
Grad rate55%Admit rate93.7%Enrollment18,492Net price$5,918View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsNew York
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
Grad rate72%Admit rate47.5%Enrollment20,081Net price$2,978View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsNew York
CUNY Brooklyn College
Grad rate54%Admit rate58.4%Enrollment14,390Net price$2,943View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsNew York
CUNY Hunter College
Grad rate57%Admit rate53.8%Enrollment22,538Net price$2,446View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsNew York
CUNY Queens College
Grad rate53%Admit rate64.3%Enrollment15,965Net price$3,830View data - R2 ResearchMichigan
Eastern Michigan University
Grad rate46%Admit rate79.6%Enrollment12,631Net price$17,084View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalMissouri
Missouri State University-Springfield
Grad rate58%Admit rate90.5%Enrollment24,360Net price$17,502View data - R2 ResearchNew Jersey
Montclair State University
Grad rate65%Admit rate87.9%Enrollment23,375Net price$14,159View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsMinnesota
Saint Cloud State University
Grad rate39%Admit rate94.8%Enrollment10,732Net price$14,485View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
San Francisco State University
Grad rate50%Admit rate96.4%Enrollment22,563Net price$12,882View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsCalifornia
San Jose State University
Grad rate69%Admit rate84.6%Enrollment37,661Net price$13,741View data - R2 ResearchTexas
Texas State University
Grad rate55%Admit rate89.3%Enrollment40,674Net price$16,438View data - R1 ResearchTexas
The University of Texas at San Antonio
Grad rate53%Admit rate86.8%Enrollment35,770Net price$11,234View data - R2 ResearchTexas
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Grad rate51%Admit rate94.2%Enrollment33,881Net price$6,500View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsMaryland
Towson University
Grad rate69%Admit rate82.0%Enrollment19,401Net price$16,791View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsAlaska
University of Alaska Anchorage
Grad rate28%Admit rate66.5%Enrollment10,493Net price$13,780View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsOklahoma
University of Central Oklahoma
Grad rate37%Admit rate78.1%Enrollment12,554Net price$18,990View data - R2 ResearchNorth Carolina
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Grad rate69%Admit rate79.6%Enrollment31,091Net price$14,745View data
CSUN Institutional Research office
The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.
The Office of Institutional Research promotes the university’s mission by curating an innovative informational hub and collaborates with CSUN stakeholders to empower equity-minded, data-informed decisions that support successful student outcomes, strategic initiatives, and institutional improvement.
Visit IR office page- Janet OhSenior Director
- Dustin TamashiroAssociate Director
- Holli TonyanAssociate Director of Academic Analytics, Professor of Psychology
- Amaya LopezLead Data Consultant
- Ana QuiranEOP Data Analyst
- Candice LiuAdministrative Analyst
- Chris GibsonData Consultant
- Clare WongData Scientist
- Corinne Y Von CollnAnalyst/Programmer
- Javier HidalgoDatabase Reporting Specialist
- Jeffrey ChambersAnalyst/Programmer, Website Manager
- Jamie KerlinData Consultant
- Joel HickmanAnalyst/Programmer, Lead, Data Security Projects
- Sabrina RifeData Consultant
- Seth SangalangGraduate Data Intern
- Ruiting JiaGraduate Data Intern
- Ruiting JiaGraduate Data Intern
- Yenifer Hernandez PaxtorUndergraduate Data Intern
- Susette Favela HernandezGraduate Data Intern
Reports & documents (5)
Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.
- DashboardDashboardcsun.edu
- Data definitionData Governance CommitteeThe Data Governance Committee at California State University Northridge is tasked with developing and supporting data governance policies and standards to ensure data availability, secure access, privacy, and integrity. It advises the Executive Technology Steering Committee and focuses on regulatory, accreditation, compliance, and AI impact on university data policies. Meeting monthly, the committee prioritizes projects such as data authorization and emerging AI trends, while designating data stewards for various data domains.csun.edu
- DFR reportIPEDS Data Feedback Report 20242024nces.ed.gov
- GlossaryGuides (IR) | CSU NorthridgeThe California State University-Northridge Institutional Research Guides page provides resources to help faculty and department leads understand and navigate various data reporting mechanisms and student evaluation systems. It includes guides such as the SEF Resources for student evaluations and the Academic Planning Data Base Guide, which explains faculty workload reporting. The page serves as a central hub for exploring CSUN's data, with additional resources for accessing dashboards, profiles, and reports related to the institution's academic affairs.csun.edu
- Strategic planStrategic planThe page from California State University, Northridge's President's Office outlines recent news and announcements from President Erika D. Beck. Highlights include a significant $40 million donation, the appointment of Dr. Amanda Quintero as Special Assistant for Inclusive Excellence, and President Beck's 100-day listening tour aimed at understanding campus challenges and opportunities. Additionally, it mentions the planned return to in-person instruction in Fall 2021 and initiatives to promote diversity and leadership opportunities for women and people of color.csun.edu
Notable alumni of CSUN (29)
A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.
- Richard DreyfussFilm and television
- Helen HuntFilm and television
- Paula AbdulFilm and television
- Eva LongoriaFilm and television
- Doug EmhoffBusiness
- Eric V. AnslynAcademia
- Gene HaasBusiness
- Olympia LePointScience
- Mike CurbGovernment and politics
- Adriana OcampoScience
- Marc LevineGovernment and politics
- Linda LingleGovernment and politics
Frequently asked questions about California State University-Northridge
Quick answers to the questions most often asked about CSUN.
What is the graduation rate at California State University-Northridge?
How many students attend California State University-Northridge?
What is the average net price at California State University-Northridge?
What is the yield rate at California State University-Northridge?
Where is California State University-Northridge located?
Who runs Institutional Research at California State University-Northridge?
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