At $7,599/yr net price, California State University-Northridge graduates earn $59,115/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $25,115/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $7,599 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $30,396 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $59,115/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$25,115/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 1.2 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 56.2% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $13,872 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $5,153/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $6,277/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $8,897/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $13,510/yr |
| $110,001+ | $18,688/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | Master | $95,739 | |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $92,124 | $15,041 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $88,907 | $34,195 |
| Taxation. | Master | $86,867 | $41,000 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Bachelor | $83,669 | $18,875 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | Master | $82,756 | |
| Engineering-Related Fields. | Master | $80,493 | |
| Educational Administration and Supervision. | Master | $76,863 | $38,464 |
| Construction Engineering Technologies. | Bachelor | $75,204 | |
| Computer Science. | Bachelor | $75,047 | $16,250 |
The Risk Factor
56.2% of students at California State University-Northridge graduate within 6 years. More than half of students finish, but the dropout rate is a real factor in whether this investment pays off.
Analysis
California State University-Northridge gives you a low-cost degree with a solid payoff. You pay well under $8,000 a year on average and carry a median debt of about $13,900 when you leave. Against median earnings near $59,000 a decade out, that debt is small enough that most graduates recover it fast. The financial return here is strong, mostly because the cost is so low.
Your major decides everything. Nursing graduates out-earn the school median by more than $30,000, and they take on only slightly more debt to get there. Allied health, construction engineering technology, computer science, and electrical engineering all clear $73,000 and pair with debt around or below $16,000. Those five paths turn a cheap CSUN degree into a clear win, helped by demand for nurses, engineers, and coders across the Los Angeles region.
The risks are completion and drift toward low-paying majors. Only 56% of students finish, and 74% return after the first year, so a quarter of you leave before sophomore year. Debt with no degree is the worst outcome here, and it's a real one. Majors outside the top-earning tier are not listed, so treat the $59,000 median as your baseline if you pick something other than health or engineering.
The net price tiers reward lower-income families. If your family earns under $30,000, you pay about $5,150 a year. if it earns over $110,000, you pay closer to $18,700. That's still moderate for a four-year degree, but the gap means high earners fund most of their own cost.
CSUN fits you if you're aiming at nursing, engineering, or computer science and want to keep debt low. Look elsewhere only if your intended field isn't strong here and you'd take on the same cost for weaker earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is California State University-Northridge worth the cost?
With a net price of $7,599 and median debt of only $13,872, CSUN offers solid value for most students. The low cost makes it a reasonable investment even though median earnings of $59,115 are modest.
What are the best paying majors at California State University-Northridge?
Engineering and nursing graduates earn the highest salaries at CSUN, with electrical engineering majors earning around $95,739 and nursing graduates making $92,124. Business and taxation majors also see strong returns with salaries in the mid-80k range.
How much debt do California State University-Northridge graduates have?
CSUN graduates have a median debt of $13,872, which is manageable compared to many universities. The low net price of $7,599 per year helps keep borrowing minimal for most students.
What is the graduation rate at California State University-Northridge?
CSUN has a 56% graduation rate, which is below the national average. This means nearly half of students who start at CSUN don't finish their degree, which affects the school's overall value proposition.