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Compare California State University-Northridge vs California State University-Sacramento

Northridge, CA · Sacramento, CA

California State University-NorthridgeCalifornia State University-Sacramento
Cost
Price after aid (average)$7,021/yr$9,338/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$4,905/yr$6,501/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$13,872$15,000
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$5,450/yr$7,001/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$7,744/yr$9,212/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$11,262/yr$11,814/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$18,040/yr$18,861/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$147/mo$159/mo
Room & board (on campus)$13,804/yr$19,174/yr
Room & board (off campus)$21,350/yr$21,042/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$1,338/yr$1,160/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$3,390/yr$4,904/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$20,485/yr$22,945/yr
Tuition (in-state)$7,458/yr$8,018/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$20,058/yr$20,618/yr
Students with Pell Grants56%49%
Students taking federal loans21%23%
Getting in
Students who get accepted93%94%
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received29,78925,994
Students accepted27,74824,336
Students who enrolled5,5453,884
Accepted students who enroll20%16%
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 experienceNot consideredOptional (considered if sent)
English proficiency testRequiredRequired
Other admission testsNot consideredNot considered
Legacy consideredNot consideredNot considered
SAT/ACT policyNot consideredNot considered
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate57%56%
Freshmen who come back73%82%
Typical earnings 10 years in$59,115/yr$64,876/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$34,394–$85,290$43,257–$89,789
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)72%73%
White students graduating69%56%
Black students graduating55%52%
Hispanic students graduating54%56%
Asian students graduating70%60%
Typical earnings 6 years in$44,372/yr$51,074/yr
Earn more than a HS grad74%78%
Graduate on time28%28%
Pell students who graduate55%54%
First-gen students who finish62%63%
Low-income students who finish62%63%
Students who transfer out5.6%2.3%
Typical earnings 8 years in$51,871/yr$58,491/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsBusiness, Management & Marketing 18% · Psychology 12% · Communication & Journalism 10%Health Professions 14% · Business, Management & Marketing 14% · Social Sciences 8%
Most popular programBusiness, Management & Marketing — 18% of degreesHealth Professions — 14% of degrees
2nd most popular programPsychology — 12% of degreesBusiness, Management & Marketing — 14% of degrees
3rd most popular programCommunication & Journalism — 10% of degreesSocial Sciences — 8% of degrees
4th most popular programSocial Sciences — 9% of degreesPsychology — 8% of degrees
5th most popular programHealth Professions — 8% of degreesHomeland Security & Protective Services — 7% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $106,780/yrRegistered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $116,001/yr
Degrees in STEM14%17%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment32,69128,350
Students per professor25 : 124 : 1
Graduate students5,5573,123
Average professor pay$12,456/mo$11,717/mo
Full-time professors43%49%
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$22,839$27,217
SettingCity (large)City (large)
LocationNorthridge, CASacramento, CA
RegionFar WestFar West
Founded19581947
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 students2.9%1.6%
Men47%45%
Women53%55%
White students18%23%
Black students5.6%6.9%
Hispanic or Latino students58%38%
Asian students8.7%21%
Two or more races3.3%6.3%
Other / not reported3.6%3.5%
Special typeNoneNone
First-generation students54%49%
Part-time students16%19%
Students age 25+20%21%
Spent on teaching per student$8,003/yr$8,604/yr
Endowment$239.9M$86.3M
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing3,2533,280
Required to live on campusNoNo
Room charge (campus housing)$7,573/yr$8,208/yr
Meal plan charge$5,098/yr$5,696/yr
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Meals per weekVaries by weekVaries by week
Academic calendarSemesterSemester
Federal designationNoneNone
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchYesYes
ROTCYes — ArmyYes — Army, Air Force
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditYesNo
Credit for life experienceYesYes
Online classesYesYes
Whole degrees onlineYesYes
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 disabilitiesYesNo
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 I without footballNCAA Division I-FCS
Football teamNoYes
Varsity teams1517
Student athletes315514
Athletic scholarships$4.5M$7.3M
Athletics budget$23.3M$46.3M
Athletics revenue$23.7M$46.3M
Recruiting spend$263,560$291,961

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.