California State University-Northridge vs. National University

Should I go to California State University Northridge or National University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if California State University-Northridge or National University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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California State University Northridge vs. National University comparison
California State University Northridge National University College 3 College 4
California State University Northridge
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Overview

California State University-Northridge National University
Location Northridge, CA San Diego, CA
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 37,760 19,924
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #892
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website csun.edu nu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

California State University-Northridge National University
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $13,320
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $13,320
Room & Board $12,648 $19,431
Avg Net Price $8,222 $28,115
Avg Grant Aid $12,000 $6,863
% Receiving Grant Aid 82% 69%

Admission

California State University-Northridge National University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 29,789 -
Admitted 27,748 -
Acceptance Rate 93.1% Open
Enrolled % 20% Open
Avg High School GPA 3.38 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/22
SAT Range 900/1110
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Nov 30, 2025

Academics

California State University-Northridge National University
Student to Faculty Ratio 21:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)

Outcomes

California State University-Northridge National University
Graduation Rate 46% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,500 $57,900
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 50%
Median Student Loan Debt $14,196 $28,642
Median Loan Payment $146 $296

Diversity

California State University-Northridge National University
% Men 5% 15%
% Women 9% 34%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 23% 38%
% Black 5% 11%
% Hispanic 44% 26%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 2%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 9% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 6%

Students

California State University-Northridge National University
% In-State 95% 55%
% Out-of-State 2% 43%

Campus

California State University-Northridge National University
Campus Housing Yes No
Freshman Dorm Required No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • California State University Northridge is larger than than National University based on total student enrollment (37,760 students vs. 19,924 students)

California State University-Northridge vs. National University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California State University-Northridge or National University?

  • National University is 132% more expensive to attend than California State University-Northridge for in-state tuition ($13,320.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 32.3% higher at California State University-Northridge than National University ($17,622.00 vs. $13,320.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Northridge than National University ($8,222 vs. $28,115)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Northridge are 53.6% lower than costs at National University ($12,648 vs. $19,431)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at California State University Northridge than National University (82% vs. 69%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Northridge students is 74.9% larger than aid received National University ($12,000 vs. $6,863)

Which college is harder to get into, California State University-Northridge or National University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between National University or California State University-Northridge .

California State University-Northridge vs. National University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, California State University-Northridge or National University? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between National University and California State University-Northridge.

  • Graduates from National University earn on average $10,400 more per year than California State University-Northridge graduates after ten years. ($57,900 vs. $47,500)
  • California State University Northridge students graduate with a $14,446 lower median federal student loan debt than National University graduates. ($14,196 vs. $28,642)
  • California State University-Northridge graduates are paying $150 less per month on federal student loans than National University graduates. ($146 vs. $296)
  • More California State University-Northridge graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former National University students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 50%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/