Founded in 1958, California State University Northridge has the second-largest student body in the California State University System. In total, CSUN’s 9 colleges offer 68 bachelors, 58 masters, and 2 doctoral degree programs.
And, many of them are offered entirely or partially online. These programs constantly fight to stay at the forefront of their fields, in an ongoing effort to offer students a cutting-edge learning experience.
Where Is California State University Northridge Located?
CSUN is located in the heart of Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley. Besides housing your potential future campus, the Valley is also home to the giants of the entertainment industry. Both movie and animation studios call San Fernando home.
Not to mention, so do many celebrities! Students interested in performing arts may find some opportunities to test their classroom knowledge just by stepping off campus.
Enrolling at CSUN
41,548 students attended CSUN in fall 2015. Of those students, 37,188 were enrolled in undergraduate studies. 54% of enrolled ungraduated students were female and 46% were male. Many of those students chose to pursue their education full-time. 81% of undergraduate students attended class full-time and 19% attended part-time.
CSUN’s undergraduate body also offers opportunities for both traditional and adult learners. 80% of students attending undergraduate classes were 24 years old or younger. The remaining 20% were 25 years or older. Adult learners returning to education can seek a welcoming environment at CSU Northridge!
Only 1% of undergraduate students enrolled in only distance education. But, many students did use online classes to supplement their degree program. 41% of students enrolled in some distance education.
In fall 2015, 4,360 graduate students were also enrolled in CSUN. These students were evenly split in how they pursued their studies. 50% of graduate students chose to attend classes full-time and the other 50% part-time. 2% of these students would take part in only distance education. An additional 9% would enroll in some distance education.i
Undergraduate CSUN Admissions
Undergraduate CSUN admissions are straightforward. Unlike other schools, you may not have to supply tons of additional materials. Instead, they heavily focus on your academic achievements. As part of this, you may be asked to provide the following as part of the admissions process.
- Completed Application
- 2.45 or higher GPA
- 400-500 SAT Critical Reading Score
- 390-510 SAT Math Score
- Or 15 to 22 ACT Scorei
- High School Transcript
It’s important to note that students that have a 3.6 or higher GPA may not be required to submit a SAT or ACT score. Students with a GPA of 3.22 or lower may still be asked to submit the information.
In addition, some programs may have additional SAT and ACT requirements. For more information about program requirements, visit their page.
Students may be asked to submit a $55 processing fee with their application.
CSUN Acceptance Rate
California State University Northridge accepted 46% of the 34,444 students in its undergraduate applicant pool. Of those students, CSUN accepted 44% of male applicants and 47% of female.
And, many of these students chose to continue their studies at California State University Northridge. Of the students who began pursuing a bachelors degree in fall 2014, 79% of full-time and 46% of part-time students returned in fall 2015.i
Graduate CSUN Admissions
Graduate students take part in a two-application process. Students may be required to submit applications to both the university and their desired department. This is done because many departments have higher admissions standards or may have aseparate departmental application.
To apply to a graduate program, students may be asked to supply the following materials.
- Two completed applications
- 2.5 or higher GPA
- Bachelors or Masters degree
For specific department requirements, visit their program page.
Both undergraduate and graduate applications could be completed using the CSU Mentor.
For more information, visit the CSUN admissions and records site on CSUN.edu.
5 More Reasons to Attend CSUN
- California State University Northridge alums include Paula Abdul, Richard Dreyfuss, Olympia LePoint, and Scott Horowitz.
- CSUN offers “stackable” degree programs. These programs combine certificate and graduate curriculum into one singular program. This way, you could work towards earning both simultaneously.
- Faculty receive specific online course training. This way, they could potentially offer more intuitive online courses.
- Online programs connect students with an assigned program manager. These advisors could help students with any administrative or academic issues they may have.
- The online programs are taught in a “cohort” format. By doing this, students who enroll at the same time in a program progress together in the same classes until graduation. This creates a supportive learning community for students to take part in.
CSUN’s Online Experience
CSUN’s online programs are designed to help working professionals complete their bachelors or masters education. These programs are offered as part of the Tseng College for Graduate, International, and Midcareer Education.
Much like CSUN’s campus programs, online courses are created to provide comprehensive learning experiences. Faculty work alongside the eLearning team to craft classes that test students’ critical thinking skills and knowledge. 41% of undergraduate students take part in some distance education.i
Prior to entering the program, students may be required to take part in a 2-week orientation. This process explains how to use the online technology. This way, students could confidently log into their classes on their first day of the semester.
CSUN Financial Aid
85% of full-time, beginning undergraduate students received financial aid in 2014-2015. Out of those students, 82% received grant or scholarship aid. Students received the following median aid from the listed sources.
- Federal Grants, $5,016
- State & Local Government Grants or Scholarships, $2,067
- Institutional Grants or Scholarships, $4,955
In addition, 33% of students received financial aid from student loans. These students received a median of $4,760 in aid from federal and other loan services.i
The Faculty at CSUN
In fall 2015, California State University Northridge employed 937 full-time and 1,130 part-time faculty members. 100% of these professors devoted 100% of their time to instructing students. No faculty members spent time conducting personal research while on campus.
In addition to faculty, graduate students may also have an opportunity to pursue a position with CSUN. In fall 2015, CSUN employed 274 graduate assistants. Out of these students, 215 assisted professors with instructing undergraduate students. The remaining 59 acted as research assistants or leads.i
Is California State University Northridge Accredited?
CSUN is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). This agency accredits schools that continually work to enhance their programs.
Schools are encouraged to continually set achievable educational goals in order to evolve their current curriculum. The WASC constantly evaluates schools’ progress towards these goals to keep them accountable.
Online Degree Programs
The online CSUN degree programs are offered 100% online. These programs could offer easy access to course materials. And, the eLearning team is constantly looking for new technologies to enhance their current offerings.
As part of these online programs, students could have the chance to pursue some of the following degree programs.
- Bachelor of Arts in Public Sector Management
- Master of Science in Engineering Management
- Master of Social Work (MSW)
- Master of Science in Assistive Technology Studies
These are only a few degree programs you could pursue online with CSUN.
Additionally, students could supplement their classes with online ones. Students could plan to take certain courses in their curriculum online as opposed to in the classroom. These courses are also offered to students outside of the Tseng College.
Also, the online program offers additional learning opportunities. Students could have that chance to take part in ongoing technical training during their program. This could help them develop their computer literacy. This could help them feel increasingly comfortable using the online tools as well as help them better understand computer systems outside the classroom.
Online MS in Assistive Technology Studies & Human Services
Many CSUN students choose to pursue degree programs in the health sciences. The online master of science in assistive technology studies and human services (MS in ATHS) provides a digital option for distance learners.
The MS in ATHS works on developing technologies to assist people with disabilities. Specifically, it works on designing new features that age with the user. As part of this, students could work with a wide range of patients from children, to adults, to veterans.
Courses could include some of the following.
- Emerging Topics in Assistive Technology
- History, Law, Policy, and Assistive Technology
- Functional Biology
- Medical Conditions Affecting Quality of Life
Students could potentially earn a MS in ATHS in two years.
Graduating from CSU Northridge
50% of full-time, first-time students who began their studies in 2009 graduated within 150% of their “normal time” of completion. This number does not account for students who transferred into CSUN or who began their studies part-time.
Out of these students 11% would earn their degree in 4 years. Of the remaining students, 50% graduated in 6 years. 55% of graduates were female and 44% were male.i
Your Next Steps with CSUN
California State University Northridge could be the next step in your education career. And, their supportive programs and faculty are here to guide the way!
For more details on the information on this page, check out CSUN.edu. Find out more today about things like admissions deadlines, potential courses, and online offerings.
[i] nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=california+state+university+northridge&s=all&id=110608
