California State University-Northridge

California State University-Northridge is a public university located in Northridge, California, with an enrollment of approximately 32,691 students. The university admits a large share of applicants — its acceptance rate of 93.5% means that most people who apply are offered admission. About 56.1% of students receive Pell grants, indicating that a significant portion of the student body comes from lower-income backgrounds.

In-state tuition is $7,458 per year, while out-of-state tuition is $20,058 per year. The average annual net price — the total estimated cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, and living expenses, after grant and scholarship aid is applied — is $7,021. This figure is an average across all students receiving aid and individual costs will vary. Notably, this net price is below the published in-state tuition rate, suggesting that many students receive aid that offsets living and other expenses beyond tuition alone.

Among programs relevant to career-focused students, California State University-Northridge offers preparation in urban planning, a field focused on the development and design of land use, infrastructure, and community environments.

The university's graduation rate is 57%, meaning just over half of entering students complete a degree. The retention rate of 73.4% reflects the share of first-year students who return for a second year. Among students who completed a credential and borrowed federal loans, the median federal student loan debt was $13,872. Only 21.4% of all students — not just graduates — took out federal student loans. Of those who did borrow, 60.7% were actively reducing their loan balance within three years of entering repayment, meaning roughly four in ten were not making progress on their debt during that period.

The median earnings figure for this school is $59,115 per year, measured approximately ten years after enrollment. This figure covers all federally-aided students who enrolled at the university, including those who did not complete a degree, so it reflects a broad population rather than graduates alone. It provides a general reference point for long-term earnings but should be considered alongside completion rates and individual program outcomes when evaluating potential return on investment.