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Real costs by school · Northridge, CA · Public

What California State University-Northridge actually costs at your income.

At California State University-Northridge, families earning $75,000–$110,000 paid an average of $11,262 per year — the published cost of attendance is $20,485. (Federal College Scorecard data, July 2026 refresh.)

Every income band — the federal numbers (Public-school prices below reflect what in-state families reported paying; out-of-state families typically pay more.)

Household incomeAvg net price / yr≈ four years*
Under $30k$4,905 / yr$20,675
$30–48k$5,450 / yr$22,972
$48–75k$7,744 / yr$32,641
$75–110k$11,262 / yr$47,469
Over $110k$18,040 / yr$76,039

*Four-year figures grow each year's price by 3.5% — the same method College Compass uses in a family's plan. "Net price" is what families actually paid after grants and scholarships, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education — not a calculator's estimate. Federal reporting groups every income above $110k into one band; families well above it often pay closer to the full cost.

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Admit rate93% published — federal data

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How this school's price compares

At $75,000–$110,000 of household income, the distance between California State University-Northridge's published sticker price and what families in that band actually paid is $9,223 a year — a 45% discount off the number on the brochure. That ranks it 5th lowest of the 24 California schools on this site at that income. Graduates report a median $59,115 10 years out — roughly 1.2× the four-year cost at this income band.

After graduation — federal data

Graduates earning, 10 yrs out (median)$59,115
Graduate in four years — the rate you're budgeting on28%
Six-year graduation rate71%
Typical graduate's own federal debt$13,872

Earnings and completion from federal reporting — not the school's own placement survey.

These are averages. Your family isn't average.
Run California State University-Northridge against your student's real GPA, your income band, and your actual high school — odds with the math shown, the paperwork it requires, and its deadlines on one plan. First three schools free.

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Nearby comparisons

Brigham Young University · University of California-Berkeley · University of California-Davis

All California public colleges →