Cal U of Pa vs California State University-Northridge (CSUN)

California University of Pennsylvania and California State University-Northridge, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Cal U, nestled in the heart of Pennsylvania, boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for aspiring students. In contrast, CSUN, located in the vibrant city of Northridge, California, attracts a more diverse student body, reflecting its cosmopolitan setting. While Cal U excels in fields like Business, Education, and Health Professions, CSUN shines in the realms of Arts, Media, and Engineering. With Cal U's higher graduation rate, students can be confident in their ability to complete their studies successfully. Explore the comprehensive comparison table to delve into further details and discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
California State University-Northridge logo

California State University-Northridge

California University of Pennsylvania logo

California University of Pennsylvania

Overview

Location Northridge, California California, Pennsylvania
Campus setting City: Large Suburb: Small
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 82.0% 67.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 88.1% 97.1%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $70
Undergraduate: $35

Graduate: $35
SAT range N/A 940 - 1150
ACT range N/A 18 - 24
Students submitting SAT score 38.0%
Students submitting ACT score 6.0%
Total number of applicants 23,656 3,933
Total number of admissions given out 20,842 3,818
Admitted students who chose to enroll 4,716 815
Yield rate 22.6% 21.3%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $31,857

Out of state: $43,737
In state: $27,904

Out of state: $32,522
Average net price $8,708 $20,317
Tuition
In state: $5,742

Out of state: $17,622
In state: $7,716

Out of state: $11,574
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $7,316

Meal plan: $4,506
Room/dormitory: $6,822

Meal plan: $3,900
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

82.0%
Average amount $10,882
92.0%
Average amount $6,250
Students receiving federal student loan 14.0%
Average amount $4,779
62.0%
Average amount $4,982
Students taking out private loans 1.0%
Average amount $12,360
8.0%
Average amount $9,920

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 34,496
Men 45.0% Women 55.0%
4,463
Men 43.3% Women 56.7%
Graduate students 5,612
Men 33.0% Women 67.0%
2,046
Men 30.4% Women 69.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students 1.7% 13.0%
International students 6.0% 1.0%
Campus local/setting City: Large Suburb: Small
Dormitory capacity 4,029 2,075
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California Washington Hawaii Nevada Texas Pennsylvania Ohio New York Maryland New Jersey

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Business
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
Students to faculty ratio 26:1 19:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 54.2% 48.4%
Dropout rate 33.7% 23.8%
Transferred out 5.6% 26.0%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $95,739
  • Year 3: $108,158
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $89,831
  • Year 2: $92,124
  • Year 3: $98,535
Taxation (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,745
  • Year 2: $86,867
  • Year 3: $97,852
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $83,455
  • Year 2: $88,907
  • Year 3: $96,626
Construction Engineering Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $79,863
  • Year 2: $75,204
  • Year 3: $92,559
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $80,493
  • Year 3: $92,252
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $83,281
  • Year 2: $83,669
  • Year 3: $89,964
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,782
  • Year 2: $75,047
  • Year 3: $84,221
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,859
  • Year 2: $73,070
  • Year 3: $82,977
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,180
  • Year 2: $76,863
  • Year 3: $82,194
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,275
  • Year 2: $79,284
  • Year 3: $81,087
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,369
  • Year 2: $63,402
  • Year 3: $67,338
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,734
  • Year 2: $55,693
  • Year 3: $63,169
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,118
  • Year 2: $54,109
  • Year 3: $57,285
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,198
  • Year 2: $48,139
  • Year 3: $55,763
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,913
  • Year 2: $52,684
  • Year 3: $54,844
Legal Professions and Studies, Other (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $42,682
  • Year 3: $51,531
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,279
  • Year 2: $37,208
  • Year 3: $50,258
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,266
  • Year 2: $46,087
  • Year 3: $49,620
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,906
  • Year 2: $45,589
  • Year 3: $48,321

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