California State University-Northridge vs. Pacific Oaks College

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Northridge in Northridge, CA with Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Northridge is larger than Pacific Oaks College based on total student enrollment (38,313 students vs. 1,068 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Northridge is located in Northridge, CA (Large City setting); Pacific Oaks College is in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting).
• California State University Northridge is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Pacific Oaks College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Northridge 25:1; Pacific Oaks College 11:1.

California State University-Northridge vs. Pacific Oaks College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California State University-Northridge or Pacific Oaks College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Northridge are 28% lower than at Pacific Oaks College ($13,804 vs. $19,185).
• Pacific Oaks College is 336% more expensive for in-state tuition than California State University-Northridge (about $25,062 more per year; $32,520.00 vs. $7,458.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 62.1% higher at Pacific Oaks College than at California State University Northridge (about $12,462 more per year; $32,520.00 vs. $20,058.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Northridge than at Pacific Oaks College (83% vs. 0%).

California State University-Northridge vs. Pacific Oaks College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, California State University-Northridge or Pacific Oaks College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Pacific Oaks College and California State University-Northridge.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Northridge 900/1110.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Northridge 16/22.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: California State University-Northridge - Test-free; Pacific Oaks College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: California State University-Northridge Nov 30, 2026.
• California State University-Northridge has a higher acceptance rate (93.4%) than Pacific Oaks College (34.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18% at California State University-Northridge vs. 22.7% at Pacific Oaks College.

California State University-Northridge vs. Pacific Oaks College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for California State University-Northridge and Pacific Oaks College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from California State University Northridge earn a median of about $5,400 more per year than Pacific Oaks College graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,500 vs. $42,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Northridge graduates have a $6,771 lower median loan debt than Pacific Oaks College graduates ($14,196 vs. $20,967).
• Among borrowers, California State University-Northridge graduates have an estimated $70 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pacific Oaks College graduates ($146 vs. $216).
• More California State University-Northridge graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pacific Oaks College students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 51%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.