Graduate earnings are in line with similar institutions.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
California State University-Northridge graduates demonstrate consistent earnings growth throughout the early career period. Median earnings rise from $44,372 six years after enrollment to $51,871 at eight years and reach $59,115 at ten years, representing robust 33.2% growth from the six-year to ten-year mark.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Graduate earnings align with peer institutions — outcomes are in line with similar schools.
Financial justification for the investment.
Excellent affordability. Median debt of $13,872 is well under annual earnings, enabling comfortable repayment.
California State University-Northridge maintains exceptionally manageable debt levels that support long-term financial stability for graduates. Median student debt reaches just $13,872, well below the peer median of $20,000, saving graduates $6,128 in borrowing compared to similar institutions.
California State University-Northridge delivers above average return on educational investment through solid earnings performance combined with exceptional debt management. The university's return index ranks at the 57.3rd percentile with above average performance, reflecting steady long-term career outcomes relative to educational costs.
Approximately 25.5% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating balanced preparation for both immediate workforce entry and ad...
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
The university's strongest earnings outcomes concentrate in technical and professional fields, with Mechanical Engineering leading at $87,847 median earnings and Accounting Technology following at $79,922. Banking and Financial Support Services ($60,743), Biology ($57,875), and Digital Marketing ($57,487) round out the top-earning programs, demonstrating strength across engineering, business, and scientific fields.
These high-performing programs drive the university's overall earnings performance while serving substantial student cohorts. In contrast, programs like Psychology ($43,423), Exercise Science ($44,385), and Communication fields ($40,021-$48,684) provide solid middle-income career preparation across diverse fields.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
Earnings outcomes show meaningful variation that reflects diverse career pathways available to graduates. The distribution ranges from $34,394 at the 25th percentile to $85,290 at the 75th percentile, representing a 2.5:1 ratio between top and bottom quartiles.
