California State University Northridge
Northridge, California
About This Campus
California State University Northridge is situated in the heart of the west San Fernando Valley which has a population of 1.8 million. The Valley is in the northern section of Los Angeles, but is within easy driving distance of the city’s attractions. Moreover, an easy two-hour drive provides opportunities for visit to mountain ski areas, beaches, hiking trails, and camping areas, as well as Disneyland, San Diego and Santa Barbara.
CSUN is a 350-acre campus with a population of nearly 40,000 students and over 2,000 Faculty. It is one of the largest schools in the California State University System and consists of eight colleges - Arts, Media and Communications; Business and Economics; Education; Engineering and Computer Science; Health and Human Development; Humanities; Science and Mathematics; and Social and Behavioral Sciences.
Helpful Information
Course flexibility is the key to success at CSUN! It is recommended that students pre-approve more courses than they plan on taking while at CSUN. Some CSUN courses may have specific prerequisites, so students should be prepared to submit official transcripts to the CSUN NSE coordinator and may need to submit further documentation, such as course syllabi, to show prerequisites are met. Please note that enrollment in courses is not guaranteed even if the prerequisite is met at the home campus.
Location Information
Northridge is located in the San Fernando Valley. It is about 20 miles from the beach at Santa Monica and 14 miles from Hollywood. There is a wide variety of entertainment to suit everyone. Public transportation is not always the most reliable, so students are advised to bring their own car where feasible.
Academics
REGISTRATION:
- Course Catalog
- Schedule of Classes
- Majors and Minors Website
- Registration Timing: With Seniors
TERM DATES:
Fall Start Date: 08/23/2025 - Fall End Date: 12/24/2025
Spring Start Date: 01/20/2026 - Spring End Date: 05/22/2026
CLOSED PROGRAMS:
College of Business and Economics (Accounting & Information Systems; Business Law; Economics; Finance; Management; Marketing; Systems & Operations Management), Department of Cinema and Television Arts (Entertainment Media Management; Film Production; Media Theory & Criticism; Multimedia Production; Screenwriting; Television Production), Education, Nursing, and Physical Therapy
RESTRICTED/LIMITED PROGRAMS:
Music
OTHER ACADEMIC INFORMATION:
Syllabus Request for Course Pre-Approval: Contact Host Campus instructor or department
NOTABLE ACADEMICS PROGRAMS:
- Deaf Studies — CSUN is proud to be one of only two institutions in the nation that offers a comprehensive undergraduate program in the area of Deaf Studies.
- Ethnic Studies — Our comparative and interdisciplinary program covers multiple areas: American Indian Studies, Asian American Studies, Central American Studies, Chicana/o Studies, Gender and Women's Studies, Jewish Studies, and Queer Studies
OPTIONS:
Honors Access: No
UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS OPEN TO NSE STUDENTS:
- African American Studies
- African Studies
- American Sign Language
- Anthropology
- Apparel/Fashion Design
- Art
- Art History
- Asian American Studies
- Biochemistry
- Biology/Life Science
- Chemistry
- Child Development
- Civil Engineering
- Communication Disorders
- Communication Studies
- Computer and Information Science
- Computer Engineering
- Construction Management
- Creative Writing
- Criminal Justice
- Criminology
- Cultural Studies
- Education of the Deaf
- Electrical Engineering
- English
- Ethnic Studies
- Family Consumer Science
- Fashion/Retail Merchandising
- Food Science
- Geography
- Geology
- Health Administration
- History
- Interior Design
- Italian
- Japanese
- Jewish Studies
- Journalism
- Kinesiology
- Linguistics
- Literature
- Marine Biology
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Music
- Native American/American Indian Studies
- Nutrition
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Queer, Gay and Lesbian Studies
- Recreation Management
- Religious Studies/Theology
- Sociology
- Spanish
- Studio Art
- Theater Arts/Drama/Acting
- Tourism Management
- Urban Studies
- Women and Gender Studies
Conditions
GPA AND OTHER ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS:
- General Eligibility Requirements
- No students accepted from within my own state, province, or territory
EXCHANGE PREFERENCES:
- Full Year Exchange: Accepted
- Single Term Exchange: Accepted
- Summer Exchange: Not Available
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS (Visa Students):
- Receive from Canada: Will Accept Home Pay
- Does your campus accept International Students (those already in the U.S. on a student visa)?
CANADIAN EXCHANGE:
Learn More
- Accept international students studying in Canada on a visa? - No
- Accept Canadian students on J1 visa or F1 visa? - J1 Visa
Tuition/Finance
TUITION:
- Campus Budget
- Fees are subject to change without notice
- Home Tuition Payment: Available
-
Away Tuition Payment: Available
Estimated cost: $3925
MAXIMUM CREDIT HOURS PER SEMESTER:
- Home Payment: 17
- Host Payment: 17
MISCELLANEOUS FEES:
IMPORTANT NOTES:
Fees are subject to change without notice.
Canadian students may incur additional fees relating to their student visa and services provided by the International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) office.
Room/Meals
ON-CAMPUS HOUSING PER SEMESER:
- Is on-campus housing available? Yes
- Is on-campus living required? No
- Number of reserved housing spaces: 0
- Average Room Cost (per term): $4883
- On-Campus Housing
Off-CAMPUS HOUSING:
NOTES ABOUT ON-CAMPUS HOUSING:
If you select, or are placed in, The Suites or a no-kitchen unit in The Apartments, you are required to purchase a meal plan. Meal plan payments are separate from Student Housing payments.
NOTES ABOUT OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING:
Approximate monthly cost: $1300-2000 Proximity to campus: 1-2 miles Local Public Transportation Available to Campus
MEAL PLANS:
- Are meal plans available on campus? Yes
- Is a meal plan purchase required for on-campus, non-apartment residence halls? Yes
- Average Meal Plan Cost (per term): $2700
- Campus Meal Plans
NOTES ABOUT MEAL PLANS:
Students are required to purchase a meal plan if they have selected a no-kitchen unit in on-campus housing. Meal Plan descriptions can be found here: https://dineoncampus.com/csun/20242025-meal-plan-options
Chance of Acceptance
Priority Placements for Academic Year 26/27
If this is your top choice campus...
Home Tuition Payment Plan
This campus accepts many (50-74%) applicants. You definitely want to consider adding alternate choice campuses marked as OPEN or EXCELLENT to ensure placement.
Away Tuition Payment Plan
This campus usually accepts all eligible applicants. Apply and start packing your bags!
If this is your alternate choice campus...
Home Tuition Payment Plan
This campus usually accepts less than 50% of students that request it. Be prepared to be placed at an alternative choice. If applying to a site with a 'limited' chance of placement, we suggest that you list a minimum of 3-5 campuses on your application, with one to two sites that have an OPEN or EXCELLENT chance of acceptance.
Away Tuition Payment Plan
This campus usually accepts all eligible applicants. Apply and start packing your bags!