Northridge, CA · Private University
Is California State University-Northridge Worth It?
ROI analysis based on real earnings and cost data
Key Numbers
10-Year Earnings
$59,115
median, 10 years after enrollment
In-State Tuition
$7,095
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$18,975
per year
Total 4-Year Cost
$75,900
tuition only (4 years)
ROI Ratio
3.12x
earnings ÷ annual tuition
Payback Period
3.1 yrs
years to recoup total cost
Graduation Rate
56.2%
6-year graduation rate
Median Debt
$13,872
at graduation
Avg Net Price
$7,599
after aid & scholarships
Earnings vs. Annual Cost
10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition
California State University-Northridge graduates earn $14,115 more than the national median of workers with any education level.
What You'd Actually Pay
Average net price after grants and scholarships, by family income
Source: IPEDS net price data. Actual costs vary based on individual financial circumstances.
Highest-Earning Majors
Top programs at California State University-Northridge ranked by graduate earnings
98 graduates
137 graduates
79 graduates
36 graduates
27 graduates
Earnings shown are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 1-year medians.
ROI by Major at California State University-Northridge
All available majors ranked by graduate earnings. Your major matters as much as your school.
Your major matters more than your school
At California State University-Northridge, the gap between the highest-earning major (Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing: $110,342) and the lowest (Religion/Religious Studies: $23,219) is $87,123/yr, bigger than the difference between many schools.
| Major | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingBest ROI | $110,342 | 5.8x |
| Computer Science | $107,813 | 5.7x |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $98,169 | 5.2x |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $97,379 | 5.1x |
| Construction Engineering Technologies | $95,243 | 5.0x |
| Mechanical Engineering | $87,847 | 4.6x |
| Civil Engineering | $81,967 | 4.3x |
| Accounting and Related Services | $79,922 | 4.2x |
| Public Administration(1yr data) | $76,049 | 4.0x |
| Computer Engineering(1yr data) | $75,692 | 4.0x |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $74,354 | 3.9x |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $73,663 | 3.9x |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $72,199 | 3.8x |
| Operations Research | $65,866 | 3.5x |
| Biotechnology | $65,623 | 3.5x |
| Economics | $63,401 | 3.3x |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | $63,319 | 3.3x |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $60,743 | 3.2x |
| Mathematics | $59,660 | 3.1x |
| Real Estate | $58,731 | 3.1x |
| Biology, General | $57,875 | 3.0x |
| Marketing | $57,487 | 3.0x |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $57,193 | 3.0x |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $57,122 | 3.0x |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $56,371 | 3.0x |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | $55,934 | 3.0x |
| Geography and Cartography | $54,884 | 2.9x |
| Public Health | $54,285 | 2.9x |
| Social Work | $50,113 | 2.6x |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $48,865 | 2.6x |
| Political Science and Government | $48,763 | 2.6x |
| Communication and Media Studies | $48,684 | 2.6x |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $48,580 | 2.6x |
| Sociology | $46,758 | 2.5x |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology(1yr data) | $45,453 | 2.4x |
| Journalism | $44,925 | 2.4x |
| Chemistry(1yr data) | $44,874 | 2.4x |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $44,385 | 2.3x |
| History | $44,147 | 2.3x |
| Psychology, General | $43,423 | 2.3x |
| English Language and Literature, General | $42,497 | 2.2x |
| Philosophy | $42,022 | 2.2x |
| Design and Applied Arts | $41,823 | 2.2x |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General | $41,718 | 2.2x |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $40,462 | 2.1x |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $40,021 | 2.1x |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $39,004 | 2.1x |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $38,385 | 2.0x |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $37,517 | 2.0x |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $36,547 | 1.9x |
| Anthropology | $35,354 | 1.9x |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections(1yr data) | $34,870 | 1.8x |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology(1yr data) | $34,838 | 1.8x |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $32,538 | 1.7x |
| Music | $32,473 | 1.7x |
| Area Studies(1yr data) | $26,793 | 1.4x |
| Religion/Religious StudiesLowest(1yr data) | $23,219 | 1.2x |
Earnings are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 5-year or 1-year. ROI = earnings ÷ annual tuition.
The Bottom Line
California State University-Northridge stands out as a strong financial investment among U.S. colleges. Graduates earn $59,115 10 years after starting, $14,115 above the national median of $45,000. The investment pays for itself in roughly 3.1 years, faster than most colleges.
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Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition data from IPEDS. ROI calculations are for informational purposes only and reflect median outcomes.