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California State University-Northridge

Name: Campus Tour
Start: 2026-04-17T14:00:00
Location: California State University-Northridge

CSUN

Northridge, California 91330

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Campus Vibe

Large campusUrban

Known for business — major research university

California State University-Northridge is a public institution in Northridge with particular strength in business and psychology.

A large campus of 32.4K undergraduates with a 21:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

56% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $59,115 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $7,599.

Established

1958

Motto

Vox Veritas Vita

Mascot

Matty the Matador

Type

Public university

Conference

Big Sky Conference from 1996 to 2001

Division

Division I

Campus Visits

13 upcoming visits · Next: Mon, Apr 13 · Campus Tour

3 more tours beyond 5 daysGet access →

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93%Acceptance

—SAT Avg

32,357Students

21:1Student:Faculty

56%Grad Rate

$59,115Earnings 10yr

$7,599Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

California State University-Northridge Launches New Data Science Minor

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tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

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Admissions

Acceptance Rate93.2%

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

93.2%

Trend

Yield Rate

35.0%

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Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition (in-state)$7,095

Tuition (out-of-state)$18,975

Room & Board$12,648

Books & Supplies$1,284

Total Cost of Attendance$20,317

Average Net Price$7,599

Median Debt at Graduation$13,872

Monthly Payment (10yr)$147

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$5,153

$30–48K$6,277

$48–75K$8,897

$75–110K$13,510

$110K+$18,688

Financial Intel

Avg Net Price

$7,599

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

7700.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$12,000

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Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

247

Peer Average

240

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

24/7 campus police department, blue-light phone network, emergency mass notification system

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Programs (158)

Student Life

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Student Body

Undergrads

32,357

Gender Split

53% / 47%

Women / Men

First Generation

54%

Pell Grant Recipients

56%

Race & Ethnicity

White 19%

Black 5%

Hispanic 57%

Asian 9%

Two+ 3%

Int'l 3%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate56.2%

Freshman Retention74.4%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$44,372

8 Years$51,871

10 Years$59,115

10-Year Earnings by Gender

Women

$46,900

Men

$54,200

Rankings

U.S. News

#20

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Forbes

#207

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Wall Street Journal

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Washington Monthly

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More About This School

Varsity Sports — Matadors

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Rankings

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History & Fun Facts

•The origins of San Fernando Valley State College trace back to September 1955, when classes first began in 10 leased classrooms at San Fernando High School.
•1956–1965 Classes started on September 24, 1956, in temporary buildings, with an enrollment of 1,500 students.
•Ralph Prator was assigned as the first president of the university and enrollment reached 2,525 with a tuition of $29 per semester.
•During that same year, the first graduation ceremony was held for around 100 students at the Hollywood Bowl; it was held on campus during subsequent years.
•In 1959, the university became the first State College to have its own computer.

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Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

163Very High

Estimated from CA state average + large city premium

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 5"Sunny days: 250Rainy days: 75

Nearest Cities

Los Angelespop. 3.9M

21 mi(36 min)

San Diegopop. 1.4M

132 mi(229 min)

San Franciscopop. 870K

327 mi(567 min)

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Getting There

Nearest Airports

LAX Los Angeles22 mi

SAN San Diego129 mi

LAS Las Vegas229 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA2600 mi · ~75h 7m drive

New York, NY2455 mi · ~70h 55m drive

Hartford, CT2519 mi · ~72h 46m drive

Providence, RI2584 mi · ~74h 39m drive

Albany, NY2461 mi · ~71h 6m drive

Syracuse, NY2340 mi · ~67h 36m drive

Rochester, NY2266 mi · ~65h 28m drive

Buffalo, NY2202 mi · ~63h 37m drive

Philadelphia, PA2398 mi · ~69h 17m drive

Pittsburgh, PA2142 mi · ~61h 53m drive

Harrisburg, PA2306 mi · ~66h 37m drive

Newark, NJ2446 mi · ~70h 40m drive

Washington, DC2305 mi · ~66h 35m drive

Baltimore, MD2325 mi · ~67h 10m drive

Atlanta, GA1947 mi · ~56h 15m drive

Charlotte, NC2128 mi · ~61h 29m drive

Raleigh, NC2244 mi · ~64h 50m drive

Miami, FL2353 mi · ~67h 59m drive

Orlando, FL2214 mi · ~63h 58m drive

Tampa, FL2166 mi · ~62h 34m drive

Nashville, TN1789 mi · ~51h 41m drive

New Orleans, LA1686 mi · ~48h 42m drive

Richmond, VA2293 mi · ~66h 15m drive

Chicago, IL1751 mi · ~50h 35m drive

Detroit, MI1988 mi · ~57h 26m drive

Minneapolis, MN1527 mi · ~44h 7m drive

St. Louis, MO1597 mi · ~46h 8m drive

Kansas City, MO1365 mi · ~39h 26m drive

Indianapolis, IN1816 mi · ~52h 28m drive

Columbus, OH1984 mi · ~57h 19m drive

Cleveland, OH2054 mi · ~59h 20m drive

Milwaukee, WI1749 mi · ~50h 32m drive

Dallas, TX1254 mi · ~36h 14m drive

Houston, TX1389 mi · ~40h 8m drive

Austin, TX1243 mi · ~35h 55m drive

San Antonio, TX1220 mi · ~35h 15m drive

Los Angeles, CA21 mi · ~36 min drive

San Francisco, CA327 mi · ~9h 27m drive

San Diego, CA132 mi · ~3h 49m drive

Seattle, WA944 mi · ~27h 16m drive

Portland, OR809 mi · ~23h 22m drive

Denver, CO837 mi · ~24h 11m drive

Phoenix, AZ374 mi · ~10h 48m drive

Salt Lake City, UT579 mi · ~16h 44m drive

Honolulu, HI2546 mi · ~73h 33m drive

Southern (mild winters, hot summers)

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Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park

Visitor parking lot

Free parking with visitor pass

9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions

Admissions Office

10:00 AMInformation session

Welcome Center

45 minutes

11:00 AMCampus tour

Starts at Welcome Center

75 minutes, student-led

12:30 PMLunch

Main Dining Hall

Visitor meal passes available

1:30 PMDepartment visit

Academic buildings

Schedule with department directly

2:30 PMExplore campus independently

Library, student center, residence halls

Nearby Hotels

Mid-Range

Budget

Airport Transit

Los Angeles (LAX)22 miles

Rental car

33 min$40-60/day

Shuttle/rideshare

44 min$26-44

San Diego (SAN)129 miles

Rental car

194 min$40-60/day

Shuttle/rideshare

258 min$155-258

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Schools Like This

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Deadline Calendar

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California State University-Northridge Application Checklist

0/9 items complete

Common Application or Coalition Application

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Official High School Transcript

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School Report + Counselor Recommendation

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Two Teacher Recommendations

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SAT or ACT Scores (test-optional)Optional

Check current test policy

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California State University-Northridge Supplemental EssaysNon-standard

1-3 supplemental essays required

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CSS Profile / FAFSA

Required for financial aid consideration

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Arts Portfolio (if applicable)Non-standardOptional

Required for arts programs

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Interview (recommended)Optional

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Decision Notifications

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SAT Range	Avg Award	Note
1400-1600	$25,000	Academic merit scholarship
1200-1399	$15,000	Dean's scholarship
1000-1199	$8,000	Achievement award