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California State University, Northridge

CSUN, which is among the nation’s largest single-campus universities, encourages students to combine academic pursuits with hands-on experience.

Founded in 1958, California State University, Northridge is a vibrant and global community located on 356-acres in the heart of Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley. Northridge, which is among the nation’s largest single-campus universities, encourages students to combine academic pursuits with hands-on experience. It also serves as the intellectual, economic and cultural heart of the Valley and beyond. Alumni include California Teachers of the Year as well as 2012's national Teacher of the Year, Grammy Award winners, public officials, nationally-recognized newscasters and a space shuttle astronaut. Their success reflects the hard work of Northridge students and the ongoing dedication of faculty and staff.

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Living in the Community

The many extracurricular activities available at California State University, Northridge make this educational metropolis a student-friendly place that provides a feeling of community and supports students' academic goals.

Graphic Silhouette of College Students

The many extracurricular activities available at California State University, Northridge make this educational metropolis a student-friendly place that provides a feeling of community and supports students' academic goals. Northridge students choose from a variety of opportunities to make college life meaningful and memorable. They can bring their view to academic and co-curricular subjects by serving as peer mentors, tutors or educators. Northridge also offers more than 200 clubs and organizations, and the chance to start new groups. Students can use internships to expand learning, gain job experience and enlarge or focus career interests. Residence hall communities immerse students in their academic fields, while volunteer activities enable them to give back to the community. With such opportunities, students easily find their niche at Northridge and acquire a solid foundation for the future.

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The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2011?

Undergraduate and Graduate Student Total
Total Students 36,911
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Undergraduate Snapshot

Undergraduate Student Demographic Breakdown
Total Undergraduate Students 31,893
 
Gender
Women 17,670 55%
Men 14,223 45%
 
Race/Ethnicity
American Indian / Alaskan Native 62 <1%
Asian 3,592 11%
African American / Black 2,334 7%
Hispanic 11,612 36%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 91 <1%
White 8,835 28%
Two or More Races 869 3%
International 1,998 6%
Race/Ethnicity Not Reported 2,500 8%
Geographic Distribution (Degree-Seeking)
Where do CSUN undergraduates call home?
 
California 94%
Other US States & Territories 1%
Other Countries 5%
 
How old are CSUN undergraduates?
Average Age 23
Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older 16%
 
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New Student Applications (Fall 2011)

Of the 25,824 new freshman applicants, 62% were admitted and 33% of the admitted students enrolled at California State University, Northridge in Fall 2011.
Of the 17,221 transfer applicants, 48% were admitted and 60% of the admitted students enrolled at California State University, Northridge in Fall 2011.
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New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores

Test(s) Required for Admission: SAT or ACT recommended

Shows middle 50% of testing range
Test Scores of Enrolled New Freshmen ACT SAT
Composite 16 - 22  
Math 16 - 23 410 - 530
English 15 - 22  
Critical Reading   400 - 510
50% of admitted students have test scores within the ranges listed, 25% have scores above, and 25% have scores below.
High School Preparation
High School Background of Enrolled New Freshmen
 
Percent in top 25% of High School Graduating Class <1%
Percent in top 50% of High School Graduating Class <1%
Percent of New Freshmen who submitted HS GPA <1%
Average High School GPA (4-point scale) 0.00
Percent who submitted High School GPA <1%
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Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?

Typical Undergraduate Costs for 2010-11 without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)

Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $24,885.00

The cost to attend California State University, Northridge varies based on the individual circumstances of students and may be reduced through grants and scholarships.

How much would I pay?

Financial Aid: How much help is there to pay?

Scholarships & Grants

  • 53% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $9,168.00. Scholarships and grants are financial aid that does not need to be repaid and is sometimes referred to as gift aid.

Annual Need-Based Loans

  • 33% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $4,215.00. Loans need to be repaid. Typically, repayment starts once you are no longer enrolled full-time. Please refer to page 12 of the Funding Education Beyond High School guide on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website for more information about Financial Need.

Percent of 2010 Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid

NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.

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CSUN Classes & Instructors

Classroom Environment
 
Students per Faculty 26 to 1
Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students 42%
Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students 83%
 
Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty 813
% of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female 46%
% of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color 32%
% of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study 96%
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Campus-based Housing

28% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
9% of all undergraduates live on campus

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Campus Safety

The Cal State Northridge Police Department patrols campus property, including parking lots and residence halls, 24 hours of every day. All laws and regulations are enforced. Campus security and safety are continually evaluated. For example, a night safety walk is held biannually to identify potential security issues that emerge after dark. Members of the Police Department also make frequent campus and community presentations designed to encourage safe, and law-abiding behavior.

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Carnegie Classification of Institutional Characteristics

The Carnegie Classification's were created "to reference the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and ... enable [people] to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions." For information on the Carnegie Classifications system, please visit their website: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/

Basic Type
Master's Colleges and Universities (larger programs)
Size and Setting
Large four-year, primarily nonresidential
Enrollment Profile
High undergraduate
Undergraduate Profile
Medium full-time four-year, inclusive
Undergraduate Instructional Program
Balanced arts & sciences/professions, high graduate coexistence
Graduate Instructional Program
Postbaccalaureate comprehensive

NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.

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Student Activities and Involvement at CSUN

Students who are actively engaged in their own learning are more likely to be successful in college. Thus, Cal State Northridge offers its students many opportunities, both inside and outside the classroom, to become involved with diverse ideas, people, and experiences. Student responses to periodic surveys, such as the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), tell us something about the types of activities and learning opportunities CSUN students take advantage of and find rewarding.

Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.

Group Learning Experiences

  • 96% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
  • 57% of seniors tutored or taught other students
  • 20% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports

Active Learning Experiences

  • 85% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
  • 13% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
  • 47% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
  • 49% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
  • 10% of seniors participated in study abroad
  • 97% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year

Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success

  • 94% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
  • 70% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
  • 63% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
  • 95% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations

Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff

  • 50% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
  • 75% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
  • 93% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
  • 69% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class

Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas

  • 68% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
  • 90% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
  • 65% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity

Student Satisfaction

  • 81% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
  • 84% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
  • 80% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive
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Majors and Degrees

Degrees awarded at California State University, Northridge in 2010-11
Degrees awarded at California State University, Northridge in 2010-11
Bachelor's 6,723
Master's 1,922
Doctoral 8
Total 8,653
Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2010-11
Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2010-11
 
Psychology, General 10%
Business Administration, Management and Operations 8%
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities 7%
Sociology 7%
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication 6%
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Future Plans of Bachelor's Degree Recipients

Survey Response Rate: 29%
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Student Success & Progress Rate

A 86% four-year success and progress rate means that 86% of students starting in Fall 2005 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
Counts for the Fall 2005 entering class shown in the graph above.
  • 3,591 First-Time, Full-Time Students
  • 2,459 Full-Time Transfer Students
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Retention of Freshman Class

First-time students in Fall 2010 that returned for their second year: 75%

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Student Learning at California State University, Northridge

All colleges and universities use multiple approaches to measure student learning. Many of these are specific to particular disciplines, many are coordinated with accrediting agencies, and many are based on outcomes after students have graduated.

Assessment influences all aspects of the curriculum at Cal State Northridge. Since 2006, departments and programs have submitted annual reports on how well students have mastered the learning outcomes integral to their degree programs. The data summarized in these reports also serve to highlight gaps in the curriculum that need filling. At the university level, student progress is tracked on a term-by-term basis, providing a reliable means of determining key continuation, graduation, and persistence rates for various groups of students. In addition, tests such as the Collegiate Learning Assessment are administered to freshmen and seniors. The results generated by the CLA and other national initiatives are combined with information from the university’s multiple databases to inform periodic reports designed to provide insight into the university’s success in enabling its diverse students to graduate within a reasonable time period.

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Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes

Colleges and universities participating in the College Portrait measure the typical improvement in students' abilities to think, reason, and write using one of three tests. This is part of a pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.

Results from the Collegiate Learning Assessment

The Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA) measures critical thinking, analytic reasoning, problem solving, and written communication using a performance task and an analytic writing task. The scores from the tasks are reported separately below.

Performance Task Results for First-time, Full-time Students

The increase in learning on the performance task is above what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.

Freshman Score: 957
Senior Score: 1216
CLA score range: 400 to no maximum score.

Average EAA scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 860
Senior Score: 1010

Analytic Writing Task Results for First-time, Full-time Students

The increase in learning on the analytic writing task is above what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.

Freshman Score: 963
Senior Score: 1175
CLA score range: 400 to no maximum score.

Average EAA scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 860
Senior Score: 1010

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