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Compare California State University-Los Angeles vs California State University-Northridge

Los Angeles, CA · Northridge, CA

California State University-Los AngelesCalifornia State University-Northridge
Cost
Price after aid (average)$3,967/yr$7,021/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$2,877/yr$4,905/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$13,000$13,872
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$2,974/yr$5,450/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$5,002/yr$7,744/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$7,355/yr$11,262/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$13,578/yr$18,040/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$138/mo$147/mo
Room & board (on campus)$19,696/yr$13,804/yr
Room & board (off campus)$20,190/yr$21,350/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$1,054/yr$1,338/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$6,608/yr$3,390/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$18,403/yr$20,485/yr
Tuition (in-state)$7,160/yr$7,458/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$19,760/yr$20,058/yr
Students with Pell Grants66%56%
Students taking federal loans18%21%
Getting in
Students who get accepted91%93%
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received32,74829,789
Students accepted30,10627,748
Students who enrolled3,6145,545
Accepted students who enroll12%20%
High-school GPARequiredRequired
High-school transcriptRequiredRequired
EssayNot consideredNot considered
Recommendation lettersNot consideredNot considered
Class rankNot consideredNot considered
College-prep programRequiredRequired
Demonstrated competenciesNot consideredNot considered
Work experienceOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
English proficiency testRequiredRequired
Other admission testsNot consideredNot considered
Legacy consideredNot consideredNot considered
SAT/ACT policyNot consideredNot considered
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate53%57%
Freshmen who come back72%73%
Typical earnings 10 years in$59,211/yr$59,115/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$36,906–$83,961$34,394–$85,290
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)68%72%
White students graduating54%69%
Black students graduating46%55%
Hispanic students graduating51%54%
Asian students graduating72%70%
Typical earnings 6 years in$45,702/yr$44,372/yr
Earn more than a HS grad75%74%
Graduate on time25%28%
Pell students who graduate52%55%
First-gen students who finish61%62%
Low-income students who finish62%62%
Students who transfer out2%5.6%
Typical earnings 8 years in$51,588/yr$51,871/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsBusiness, Management & Marketing 16% · Health Professions 9% · Psychology 9%Business, Management & Marketing 18% · Psychology 12% · Communication & Journalism 10%
Most popular programBusiness, Management & Marketing — 16% of degreesBusiness, Management & Marketing — 18% of degrees
2nd most popular programHealth Professions — 9% of degreesPsychology — 12% of degrees
3rd most popular programPsychology — 9% of degreesCommunication & Journalism — 10% of degrees
4th most popular programHomeland Security & Protective Services — 8% of degreesSocial Sciences — 9% of degrees
5th most popular programSocial Sciences — 7% of degreesHealth Professions — 8% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $145,897/yrRegistered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $106,780/yr
Degrees in STEM15%14%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment19,56232,691
Students per professor21 : 125 : 1
Graduate students3,5775,557
Average professor pay$12,690/mo$12,456/mo
Full-time professors42%43%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited byWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University CommissionWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Median family income$22,032$22,839
SettingCity (large)City (large)
LocationLos Angeles, CANorthridge, CA
RegionFar WestFar West
Founded19471958
Public or privatePublicPublic
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationMaster's Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsMaster's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students1%2.9%
Men44%47%
Women56%53%
White students3.7%18%
Black students4.3%5.6%
Hispanic or Latino students78%58%
Asian students9.8%8.7%
Two or more races1.6%3.3%
Other / not reported2%3.6%
Special typeNoneNone
First-generation students62%54%
Part-time students18%16%
Students age 25+23%20%
Spent on teaching per student$9,018/yr$8,003/yr
Endowment$62.5M$239.9M
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing2,4833,253
Required to live on campusNoNo
Room charge (campus housing)$10,198/yr$7,573/yr
Meal plan charge$5,346/yr$5,098/yr
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Meals per weekVaries by weekVaries by week
Academic calendarSemesterSemester
Federal designationNoneNone
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchYesYes
ROTCYes — Army, Air ForceYes — Army
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditYesYes
Credit for life experienceYesYes
Online classesYesYes
Whole degrees onlineNoYes
Weekend & evening classesNoNo
Teacher certificationYesYes
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesYes
Job placement for graduatesYesYes
On-campus day careYesYes
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesNoYes
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolNoNo
Credit for military trainingYesYes
Student veteran organizationYesYes
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionNoNo
Prepaid tuition planNoNo
Athletics
Athletics data from2024-252024-25
College sports levelNCAA Division II without footballNCAA Division I without football
Football teamNoNo
Varsity teams1515
Student athletes262315
Athletic scholarships$1.4M$4.5M
Athletics budget$8.5M$23.3M
Athletics revenue$8.5M$23.7M
Recruiting spend$19,608$263,560

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.