California State University-Northridge vs. Platt College-Los Angeles

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Northridge in Northridge, CA with Platt College Los Angeles in Alhambra, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Northridge is larger than Platt College-Los Angeles based on total student enrollment (38,313 students vs. 570 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Northridge is located in Northridge, CA (Large City setting); Platt College Los Angeles is in Alhambra, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• California State University Northridge is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Platt College Los Angeles is a private, for-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Northridge 25:1; Platt College Los Angeles 21:1.

California State University-Northridge vs. Platt College-Los Angeles Cost Comparison

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

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Northridge than Platt College-Los Angeles ($7,536 vs. $27,195).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Northridge are 19.6% lower than at Platt College Los Angeles ($13,804 vs. $17,178).
• Platt College Los Angeles is 100.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than California State University-Northridge (about $7,464 more per year; $14,922.00 vs. $7,458.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 34.4% higher at California State University-Northridge than at Platt College Los Angeles (about $5,136 more per year; $20,058.00 vs. $14,922.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Northridge than at Platt College Los Angeles (83% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Northridge students is 138.3% larger than aid received by Platt College Los Angeles students ($12,825 vs. $5,383).

California State University-Northridge vs. Platt College-Los Angeles Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, California State University-Northridge or Platt College-Los Angeles? 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 Platt College-Los Angeles and California State University-Northridge.

• Platt College Los Angeles reports an open admissions policy.
• 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; Platt College-Los Angeles - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: California State University-Northridge Nov 30, 2026.

California State University-Northridge vs. Platt College-Los Angeles Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for California State University-Northridge and Platt College-Los Angeles? 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).

• The graduation rate at California State University-Northridge is the same as at Platt College Los Angeles (46% vs. 46%).
• Graduates from California State University Northridge earn a median of about $12,800 more per year than Platt College-Los Angeles graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,500 vs. $34,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Northridge graduates have a $6,804 lower median loan debt than Platt College-Los Angeles graduates ($14,196 vs. $21,000).
• Among borrowers, California State University-Northridge graduates have an estimated $71 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Platt College-Los Angeles graduates ($146 vs. $217).
• More California State University-Northridge graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Platt College-Los Angeles students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 28%)

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.