California State University, Northridge College Portrait
California State University, Northridge18111 Nordhoff Street Northridge, CA 91330-8207
818-677-3700
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.
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.
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.
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2011?
| Total Students | 36,911 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| 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% |
| 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% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2011)
New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores
Test(s) Required for Admission: SAT or ACT recommended
| 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 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% | |
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.
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% |
Campus-based Housing
28% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
9% of all undergraduates live on campus
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.
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.
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
Majors and Degrees
| 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 | |
|---|---|
| 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% |
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
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2010 that returned for their second year: 75%
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.
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