- Acceptance rate: 93% for fall 2024
- Average high school GPA: 3.33, as reported by the college for 2024–25
- Average net price: $8,222 a year (2022–23)
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How does your GPA compare?
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Where you standEnter your GPA
Type your GPA to compare it with what California State University Northridge reported: an average GPA of 3.33 (2024–25) and an acceptance rate of 93% for fall 2024.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. California State University Northridge reviews each application.
California State University Northridge average GPA
California State University Northridge reported an average high school GPA of 3.33 for its first-year students who submitted one (100% did), in its 2024–25 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether it's weighted or unweighted.
An average, not a cutoffColleges calculate GPA in different ways, so this figure can't be compared directly with your own GPA.
California State University Northridge acceptance rate
California State University Northridge admitted 30,842 of 33,005 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 93%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
California State University Northridge is a public 4-year university in Northridge, California, with 32,756 undergraduates.
Admission requirements
What California State University Northridge looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Required |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Required |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Not considered |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Not considered |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Not considered |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Not considered |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Not considered |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Not considered |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Not considered |
California State University Northridge didn't report SAT or ACT scores for its fall 2024 first-year students.
AP credit
California State University Northridge awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It also awards credit for life experience, such as work or military service.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $8,222 a year at California State University Northridge in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Can a 3.0 GPA get you into CSUN?
GPA alone can't tell you here. California State University Northridge admitted 93% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It requires a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.0 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
Do you need SAT or ACT scores to apply to CSUN?
Check California State University Northridge's admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. California State University Northridge didn't consider SAT or ACT scores, even if you sent them (test blind), according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024).
Is CSUN hard to get into?
Not for most prepared students: at least 3 in 4 applicants got in. California State University Northridge admitted 93% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
How much does GPA matter at CSUN?
A lot: California State University Northridge requires high school GPA, high school record and college preparatory program. It doesn't consider high school class rank, recommendations, essay or personal statement, test scores, other tests, demonstration of competencies, work experience and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
How many applicants get into CSUN?
California State University Northridge's acceptance rate was 93% for fall 2024: it admitted 30,842 of 33,005 first-year applicants, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education.
What GPA does CSUN look for?
California State University Northridge doesn't set a minimum GPA we could verify. Its first-year students averaged 3.33, as reported by the college in its 2024–25 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether that average is weighted or unweighted.
Does CSUN require an essay?
No. California State University Northridge doesn't consider a personal statement or essay, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
How much does CSUN cost after financial aid?
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $8,222 a year at California State University Northridge in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Does CSUN consider legacy status?
No. California State University Northridge doesn't consider whether a parent or other relative attended, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Does CSUN accept AP credit?
Yes. California State University Northridge awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
Before you apply, check CSUN's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: California State University-NorthridgeU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- California State University Northridge Common Data Set 2024–25California State University Northridge: average high school GPA of first-year students.
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