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California State University, Northridge

⌖ Northridge, CA · 81 reportable field-and-credential outcomes

MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff

−$56,914 over 10 years

Modeled from observed year-5 institution earnings and the institution-wide average net price over four years.

At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.

13.8 yrsModeled economic break-even
−27%Modeled 10-year ROI
$60,117Observed earnings · year 5
Economic ROI includes direct price and earnings forgone during study · $45,000 comparison earnings · values held flat · see the formula
ECONOMIC INVESTMENT → PAYBACK

Estimated payoff over ten years.

The scenario counts direct price and earnings forgone upfront, then applies the reported annual earnings premium.

10-YEAR PAYOFF CURVECumulative economic payoff after graduation
−$56,914at year 10
Net gainInvestment not yet recovered
NET GAIN$0UNRECOVERED
−$208,0840
2
4
6
8
−$56,91410
Years after graduationBreak-even: 13.8 years
FEDERAL COST DATA

Four ways to read college price.

Annual college-wide figures from the current College Scorecard release. Average net price covers full-time, first-time undergraduates receiving federal aid; public-college figures use in-state students. Program tuition and individual aid offers may differ.

Published in-state tuition$7,458
Sticker price
Published out-of-state tuition$20,058
Sticker price
Average net price$7,021
Title IV student average
Cost of attendance$20,485
Tuition + living budget
PRICE SOURCECollege reported · annual amount · federal dataset
OBSERVED FEDERAL MEASURES

Cost, completion and earnings context

$7,021Average net price / year
$20,485Cost of attendance
$60,117Median earnings · year 5 after completion
57.0%Completion rate
93.5%Admission rate
32,691Student size
NATIONAL CONTEXT

How this college compares

Percentiles compare this institution with currently operating colleges that report the same federal measure.

80thEarnings percentile
48thCompletion percentile
EARNINGS PATH

Reported earnings over time

$36,905Year 1
$59,664Year 4
$60,117Year 5

Separate federal cohorts may underlie different measurement years.

PROGRAM PAYOFF SPREAD

The college average is not the whole story.

Observed earnings vary substantially by field and credential at the same institution.

1Computer Science · Master's Degree$178,1362Manufacturing Engineering · Master's Degree$129,1513Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Bachelor's Degree$116,6134Business Administration, Management and Operations · Master's Degree$115,1235Education, General · Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)$113,4936Educational Administration and Supervision · Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)$112,5227Taxation · Master's Degree$108,5768Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions · Bachelor's Degree$105,747

Observed year-4 earnings · compare like fields and credentials before deciding

BUILD A REAL SHORTLIST

Comparable colleges in CA

Currently operating public institutions with the closest combination of annual net price and observed year-5 earnings. Similarity is descriptive—not a quality ranking.

Fresno, CA

California State University, Fresno

Annual net price
$7,000
Observed earnings · year 5
$60,400
Modeled 10-year ROI
-26%
Open college profile →Turlock, CA

California State University, Stanislaus

Annual net price
$6,067
Observed earnings · year 5
$60,851
Modeled 10-year ROI
-22%
Open college profile →Alameda, CA

College of Alameda

Annual net price
$8,496
Observed earnings · year 5
$60,475
Modeled 10-year ROI
-28%
Open college profile →Santa Rosa, CA

Santa Rosa Junior College

Annual net price
$6,331
Observed earnings · year 5
$58,892
Modeled 10-year ROI
-32%
Open college profile →
ALL REPORTABLE PROGRAM CATEGORIES

Explore exact field-and-credential outcomes

Federal fieldCredentialEarnings, year 4Federal debt
Computer ScienceMaster's Degree$178,136Not available
Manufacturing EngineeringMaster's Degree$129,151Not available
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingBachelor's Degree$116,613$20,000
Business Administration, Management and OperationsMaster's Degree$115,123Not available
Education, GeneralNon-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)$113,493Not available
Educational Administration and SupervisionNon-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)$112,522Not available
TaxationMaster's Degree$108,576Not available
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsBachelor's Degree$105,747$20,250
Civil EngineeringMaster's Degree$104,388Not available
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications EngineeringBachelor's Degree$104,065$17,440
Educational Administration and SupervisionMaster's Degree$101,424Not available
Computer ScienceBachelor's Degree$101,348$18,483
Computer EngineeringBachelor's Degree$101,021$19,548
Mechanical EngineeringBachelor's Degree$99,216$18,000
Accounting and Related ServicesMaster's Degree$98,558Not available
Civil EngineeringBachelor's Degree$97,123$18,732
Health and Medical Administrative ServicesMaster's Degree$95,444Not available
Public AdministrationMaster's Degree$92,353Not available
Accounting and Related ServicesBachelor's Degree$92,329$15,810
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralBachelor's Degree$91,131$19,007
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsMaster's Degree$89,925Not available
Construction Engineering Technology/TechnicianBachelor's Degree$89,804Not available
Management Information Systems and ServicesBachelor's Degree$88,999$21,851
Special Education and TeachingMaster's Degree$85,826Not available
Public AdministrationBachelor's Degree$85,789$37,500
Clinical, Counseling and Applied PsychologyMaster's Degree$83,681Not available
Public HealthMaster's Degree$83,400Not available
Social WorkMaster's Degree$81,505Not available
ChemistryBachelor's Degree$79,878Not available
Communication Disorders Sciences and ServicesMaster's Degree$76,505Not available
Student Counseling and Personnel ServicesMaster's Degree$75,660Not available
Finance and Financial Management ServicesBachelor's Degree$74,656$14,000
Operations ResearchBachelor's Degree$74,344$15,000
BiotechnologyBachelor's Degree$73,542$20,618
EconomicsBachelor's Degree$72,890$13,000
Urban Studies/AffairsBachelor's Degree$72,148$13,612
Education, OtherMaster's Degree$71,067Not available
Geography and CartographyBachelor's Degree$69,323$8,250
Business Administration, Management and OperationsBachelor's Degree$65,760$15,000
Communication Disorders Sciences and ServicesBachelor's Degree$65,188$15,356
Hospitality Administration/ManagementMaster's Degree$64,835Not available
MarketingBachelor's Degree$64,373$14,000
MathematicsBachelor's Degree$63,077$16,949
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, GeneralMaster's Degree$62,537Not available
English Language and Literature, GeneralMaster's Degree$61,735Not available
Communication and Media StudiesMaster's Degree$60,784Not available
Health and Medical Administrative ServicesBachelor's Degree$60,740$13,000
MusicMaster's Degree$60,697Not available
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population BiologyBachelor's Degree$59,940$24,250
Design and Applied ArtsBachelor's Degree$59,676Not available
Biology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$59,100$15,059
Political Science and GovernmentBachelor's Degree$57,527$14,202
Real EstateBachelor's Degree$57,174Not available
Communication and Media StudiesBachelor's Degree$57,138$13,999
Public HealthBachelor's Degree$55,989$14,000
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, GeneralBachelor's Degree$55,327$17,000
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical SciencesBachelor's Degree$55,096$21,040
SociologyBachelor's Degree$54,500$13,000
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsBachelor's Degree$54,169$11,000
JournalismBachelor's Degree$53,351$15,480
Area StudiesBachelor's Degree$53,077Not available
Social WorkBachelor's Degree$52,988$12,449
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesBachelor's Degree$52,772$15,000
Religion/Religious StudiesBachelor's Degree$51,235$13,483
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesBachelor's Degree$50,708$15,000
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessBachelor's Degree$50,663$15,000
Hospitality Administration/ManagementBachelor's Degree$50,644$15,000
Psychology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$49,792$13,000
Radio, Television, and Digital CommunicationBachelor's Degree$49,359$15,000
PhilosophyBachelor's Degree$48,566Not available
English Language and Literature, GeneralBachelor's Degree$47,660$18,000
Film/Video and Photographic ArtsBachelor's Degree$46,913$18,266
HistoryBachelor's Degree$45,821$15,000
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related ServicesBachelor's Degree$45,088$11,250
Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsBachelor's Degree$43,345$15,184
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftBachelor's Degree$43,240$17,863
AnthropologyBachelor's Degree$43,192$17,750
Fine and Studio ArtsBachelor's Degree$42,904$15,000
MusicBachelor's Degree$40,669$15,933
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and ServicesBachelor's Degree$32,939Not available
Microbiological Sciences and ImmunologyBachelor's DegreeNot available$7,500

Earnings, price, completion and enrollment are observed federal measures. ROI, payoff and break-even are modeled scenarios built from those measures and fixed assumptions. College payoff is not the payoff of every degree at this school; use the program table for a more precise comparison.