California State University, Northridge
California State University, Northridge is a public, four-year Hispanic-Serving Institution in Los Angeles's San Fernando Valley, serving ~36,848 students (69% first-generation, 56.3% Latino/a) across nine colleges with 152 undergraduate majors and 109 master's programs, ranked #2 nationally for bachelor's degrees awarded to Hispanic students.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1958
- HeadquartersNorthridge, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What California State University, Northridge does
California State University, Northridge (CSUN) is a public four-year university and one of 23 campuses in the California State University system, founded in 1958 on a 353-acre campus in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. The university enrolls approximately 36,848 students (Fall 2024), of which 69% are first-generation college students and 56.3% are Latino/a, making it a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution ranked #2 in the U.S. for awarding bachelor's degrees to Hispanic students. CSUN offers 152 undergraduate majors, 109 master's programs, 3 professional doctorates, ~30 credential pathways, and ~30 certificate programs across nine colleges, supported by ~2,100 faculty.
CSUN's core technology footprint includes the Autodesk Technology Engagement Center (opened August 22, 2025 with $7M+ from Autodesk and a $25M state allocation, featuring a 30-foot-tall High Bay Structural Lab), Apple's technology ecosystem, and the CSU system's first fully realized Adobe Creative Campus designation with AI-assisted content creation tools. Research & Sponsored Programs awarded $35M to faculty across 227 sponsored projects in FY2024-2025, including NSF and USDA-funded initiatives. Auxiliary operations include The Soraya performing arts venue (45 performances in the 2026-27 season with record-breaking attendance), KCSN 88.5 FM public radio, and the Aquatic Center at Castaic Lake.
The university's revenue model is diversified across tuition and fees ($8,330/year for California resident undergraduates in 2026-2027, plus $471/unit non-resident surcharge), state appropriations, federal and state financial aid disbursements, sponsored research grants, philanthropic fundraising ($140M raised over the last four fiscal years, including $103M+ cumulatively from MacKenzie Scott), ticketed performing arts revenue, and continuing education programs through Tseng College. Distribution combines direct enrollment via Cal State Apply, international recruitment through 18+ country exchange partnerships (CSU-IP), community-based continuing education, and alumni engagement with a global network of 434,000+ Matadors.
California State University, Northridge firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- California State University, Northridge
- Legal name
- California State University, Northridge
- Website
- https://csun.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1958
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- California State University, Northridge is a public, four-year Hispanic-Serving Institution in Los Angeles's San Fernando Valley, serving ~36,848 students (69% first-generation, 56.3% Latino/a) across nine colleges with 152 undergraduate majors and 109 master's programs, ranked #2 nationally for bachelor's degrees awarded to Hispanic students.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
California State University, Northridge industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems (EDAHAAAI)
Keywords
Where California State University, Northridge is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Northridge
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
California State University, Northridge business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Recurring tuition revenue. California Resident Undergraduate tuition and fees for 2026-2027 are $8,330 per year (full-time, 7+ units/semester). Non-resident tuition is $471 per unit; a typical 30-unit year adds $14,130 to base fees, bringing the non-resident total to $22,460. Mandatory systemwide tuition set by the CSU Chancellor's Office and subject to change.
- State Appropriations and Capital Allocations: Direct state funding, including a $25 million state allocation from California that helped fund the Autodesk Technology Engagement Center opened in August 2025.
- Sponsored Research Grants and Contracts: Extramural research funding. In fiscal year 2024-2025, $35M was awarded to faculty across 227 sponsored projects. Includes federal grants such as the National Science Foundation water quality database and a $1.2 million USDA grant for food/nutrition workforce training.
- Philanthropic Fundraising: Charitable giving through University Relations and Advancement. $140M raised in philanthropic funds over the last four fiscal years. Recent major gifts include a $63M donation from MacKenzie Scott in December 2025 (bringing her total CSUN giving to over $103M) and more than $7M from Autodesk for the Technology Engagement Center.
- Federal Financial Aid Disbursements (Grants, Loans, Work-Study): Pass-through federal and state student aid, including Federal Pell Grants, Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, Federal PLUS Loans, Federal Work-Study, Cal Grants, and California Dream Act Application (CADAA) awards, disbursed to enrolled students.
- Performing Arts and Event Revenue (The Soraya): Ticketed programming at The Soraya, CSUN's professional performing arts venue. The 2026-27 season features 45 performances, including eight major debuts; the venue reported record-breaking attendance and ticket revenue in the current and preceding seasons.
- Auxiliary and Continuing Education Services: Revenue from auxiliary operations such as the Aquatic Center at Castaic Lake, Tseng College professional and international programs, Open University continuing education, Summer Academic Enrichment Program, and Summer Academic Program for Elementary School Students.
- Facility Rentals and Licensing: Rental of University Student Union, University Club, and other on-campus facilities for events, plus applications for filming, photography, and University Licensing of the CSUN brand.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Annual | California Resident Undergraduate (with parent/relative, 7+ units/semester) 2026-2027 |
| Unit Pricing | Annual | Non-Resident Undergraduate Tuition Surcharge |
| Unit Pricing | Annual | Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) Reduced Non-Resident Tuition |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | The Soraya Performing Arts Tickets |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Tseng College and Open University Continuing Education |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels11 records
California State University, Northridge product offering
Product offeringCore offering
California State University, Northridge is a public, four-year comprehensive university that delivers higher education services through nine colleges, awarding bachelor's degrees across 152 undergraduate majors and master's degrees across 109 programs, plus 3 professional doctorates, approximately 30 credential pathways, and approximately 30 certificate programs. It supplements in-person instruction with sponsored research programs, continuing and professional education through the Tseng College, international student services, public performing arts programming at The Soraya, and community-engaged research and workforce development in the San Fernando Valley.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Soraya: Performing arts center at CSUN hosting professional performances in dance, music, theatre, and other genres; introduced Chad Hilligus as incoming Executive & Artistic Director in 2026-27 season.
- 88.5 FM (KCSN)
- Matadors
Products and services
- Bachelor's Degree Programs 152 undergraduate majors and options across nine colleges, offered to first-time freshmen, transfer, international, returning, veteran, and second bachelor's students at the Northridge campus and select extension sites.
- Master's Degree Programs 109 master's degree programs across CSUN's nine colleges and the Tseng College, including on-campus, online, and blended delivery formats.
- Professional Doctoral Degrees 3 professional doctoral degree programs offered through CSUN's academic colleges.
- Teaching Credential Programs Nearly 30 teaching credential pathways preparing K-12 educators, administered primarily through the Michael D. Eisner College of Education.
- Certificate Programs Nearly 30 certificate programs spanning undergraduate and graduate levels, offered through CSUN's academic colleges.
- Tseng College Graduate, International and Midcareer Education Programs 30+ full- and part-time programs in online, face-to-face, and blended formats for professional, international, and midcareer students, plus custom-designed short-term programs for international groups.
- Open University Continuing Education Continuing education courses available to community members through tsengcollege.csun.edu, serving the San Fernando Valley and broader Los Angeles area.
- International Student Exchange Programs CSU International Programs across 18 countries plus Campus-Based Exchange Programs with partner universities in Armenia, Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and Spain.
- Aquatic Center at Castaic Lake Boating and water safety education programs operated by the College of Health and Human Development, offering credit, non-credit, and community service programming.
- The Soraya Performing Arts Season Annual season of 45 professional live performances across dance, music, and theatre at CSUN's performing arts venue, including eight major debuts in the 2026-27 season.
- Sponsored Research Programs Extramurally funded research administered through Research & Sponsored Programs, with $35M awarded to faculty across 227 sponsored projects in fiscal year 2024-2025.
- Summer Academic Enrichment Program and Teenage Drama Workshop Summer academic enrichment programming for K-12 learners plus the Teenage Drama Workshop, both serving the San Fernando Valley community.
- International and Exchange Student Center Services International recruitment, admissions, F-1/J-1 visa support, and exchange student services for CSUN's international student population.
Quantifiable outcome
- 65% four-year graduation rate for first-time transfers
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use California State University, Northridge
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
California State University, Northridge technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration13 records
AI capability2 records
Feature7 records
California State University, Northridge partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.
- SUMA WealthcoreSUMA Wealth is a coalition partner with CSUN on the Global HSI Equity Innovation Hub initiative to equip Hispanic-Serving Institution learners with skills to lead in an AI-driven economy. The initiative targets 20,000+ students over two years across 500+ HSIs nationwide.
- Super{Power}coreSuper{Power} is a coalition partner with CSUN on the Global HSI Equity Innovation Hub initiative, supporting AI fluency, financial capability, entrepreneurship, and culturally rooted storytelling programming.
- Apogee ElectronicsminorApogee Electronics is among the coalition partners supporting the Global HSI Equity Innovation Hub initiative launched in April 2026 to equip Hispanic-Serving Institution learners with AI-driven economy skills.
- AdobeflagshipAdobe partners with the CSU Entertainment Alliance (housed at CSUN) to present CSU MAX, a full-day creative event for all 22 CSU campuses. The partnership positions the CSU system as the nation's first fully realized Adobe Creative Campus system, providing students with Adobe creative tools and AI-assisted content creation technologies.
- Cal State Long Beach (CSULB)coreCSULB collaborates with CSUN (and University of Texas at Arlington) on an NSF-funded project collecting water quality data from fire-affected areas in California to create a national database analyzing impacts of 2025 fires, drought, and atmospheric rivers.
- University of Texas at ArlingtoncoreUniversity of Texas at Arlington collaborates with CSUN and Cal State Long Beach on an NSF-funded project to build a national database on water quality from fire-affected California areas, with broader applications for research and environmental management.
- Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP)coreCSUN researchers and LADWP have completed the first phase of a collaborative three-phase study called CONNECT, examining how workplace design factors (lighting, layout, acoustics, air quality) impact employee productivity and well-being. Future phases will explore virtual/augmented reality integration and digital twin modeling.
- Los Angeles Mission CollegecoreCSUN, Los Angeles Mission College, and LAUSD's Careers through Culinary Arts Program launched a collaboration funded by a $1.2 million USDA grant to train future food, nutrition, and health professionals across high school, community college, and university levels (impacting 4,600+ students).
- Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Careers through Culinary Arts ProgramcoreLAUSD's Careers through Culinary Arts Program partners with CSUN and LA Mission College on a USDA-funded ($1.2M) collaboration to train future food, nutrition, and health professionals, impacting 4,600+ students at the high school, community college, and university levels.
- AutodeskflagshipSoftware company Autodesk contributed more than $7 million to the design and construction of the Autodesk Technology Engagement Center at CSUN, which officially opened on August 22, 2025. Autodesk provides free access to professional-grade design software and plays an active role in shaping real-world learning experiences for students in STEAM fields.
- Apple Inc.flagshipApple Inc. supports the Autodesk Technology Engagement Center at CSUN, which opened on August 22, 2025. Apple also partners with CSUN on the Global HSI Equity Innovation Hub launched in 2026, providing the technology ecosystem and learning platforms for AI fluency programs. In 2024, Apple and the State of California established the Centro Global HSI Innovador (Global HSI Innovation Center) to increase Latino presence in STEM careers.
- NASA (Jet Propulsion Laboratory / community-engaged research)minorCSUN partners with NASA as part of its community-engaged research portfolio; CSUN alumna Akemi Hinzer '21 works as a Planetary Protection Scientist at NASA JPL on the Europa Clipper spacecraft, featured as a CSUN Road Map to the Future success story.
- Fulbright Program (U.S. Department of State)minorCSUN participates in the U.S.-government-sponsored Fulbright Program, the leading international exchange program, providing opportunities for CSUN students and professionals to study, teach, and conduct research worldwide in more than 100 countries.
- CSU FoundationcoreThe California State University Foundation offers donor-funded scholarships on a systemwide or multi-campus basis, with CSUN serving as the coordinating campus for Alumni Association activities and corporate connect programs.
- Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission IndianscoreCSUN maintains a Land Acknowledgement recognizing the Sesevitam, the first people of Sesevenga, and works in partnership with the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians on urban forestry and climate change initiatives highlighted in the Road Map to the Future.
- Office of Community EngagementcoreCSUN's Office of Community Engagement within Undergraduate Studies coordinates community partnerships in the San Fernando Valley, supporting local organizations and student civic engagement.
Scale indicators21 records
Recent moves3 records
Expansion highlights5 records
California State University, Northridge competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- California State University, Long Beach: A direct CSU system peer in Southern California with comparable enrollment scale, similar HSI designation, and overlapping engineering, health, and arts programs. CSULB even collaborates with CSUN on the NSF-funded water quality database project.
- California State University, Fullerton: A direct CSU peer in Orange County with similar enrollment (~40,000), HSI designation, and comparable mix of business, engineering, communications, and arts programs competing for the same Southern California student pool.
- San Diego State University: A direct CSU peer with comparable enrollment scale, strong engineering and communications programs, and similar HSI positioning. Competes for California-resident applicants and research funding within the CSU system.
- Cal Poly Pomona: A direct CSU peer located in the Inland Empire with comparable enrollment, an HSI designation, and applied/polytechnic programs (engineering, business, agriculture) overlapping with CSUN's offerings.
- California State University, Los Angeles: A direct CSU peer and CSUN's geographic neighbor in the greater Los Angeles area with similar HSI designation, comparable enrollment, and overlapping programs in business, engineering, and education.
- California State University, Fresno: A CSU peer with comparable HSI designation and focus on first-generation and underrepresented students. Competes with CSUN for CSU system funding allocations and serves an overlapping demographic mission.
- California State University, Bakersfield: A smaller CSU peer with HSI designation and a similar social-mobility mission. Shares systemwide dynamics (Chancellor's Office tuition setting, shared services, CSU-IP study abroad) that make it a structural peer.
Broad incumbents
- University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA): The flagship UC campus in Los Angeles and the dominant higher-education brand in CSUN's home market. UCLA draws top-tier applicants from the same regional pool and competes for philanthropic capital, faculty talent, and research grants.
- University of Southern California (USC): A private research university in Los Angeles with top-ranked film school (competing directly with CSUN's Top 25 program), strong engineering, and entertainment industry ties. Competes for the same creative-economy talent pipeline.
- University of California, Riverside: A UC campus in the Inland Empire with comparable HSI designation and a similar focus on first-generation and underrepresented students. Competes with CSUN for California-resident STEM and social-mobility narratives.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
California State University, Northridge social profiles
Digital presenceCalifornia State University, Northridge financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
California State University, Northridge leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles21 records
California State University, Northridge subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries7 records
California State University, Northridge funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors3 records
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California State University, Northridge M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about California State University, Northridge
What does California State University, Northridge do?
California State University, Northridge is a public, four-year comprehensive university that delivers higher education services through nine colleges, awarding bachelor's degrees across 152 undergraduate majors and master's degrees across 109 programs, plus 3 professional doctorates, approximately 30 credential pathways, and approximately 30 certificate programs. It supplements in-person instruction with sponsored research programs, continuing and professional education through the Tseng College, international student services, public performing arts programming at The Soraya, and community-engaged research and workforce development in the San Fernando Valley.
Is California State University, Northridge a public or private company?
California State University, Northridge is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was California State University, Northridge founded?
California State University, Northridge was founded in 1958. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is California State University, Northridge based?
California State University, Northridge is headquartered in Northridge, United States, in the North America region.
How does California State University, Northridge make money?
Eight revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are state Appropriations and Capital Allocations, sponsored Research Grants and Contracts, philanthropic Fundraising, federal Financial Aid Disbursements (Grants, Loans, Work-Study), performing Arts and Event Revenue (The Soraya), auxiliary and Continuing Education Services and facility Rentals and Licensing.
Who are California State University, Northridge's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are California State University, Long Beach, California State University, Fullerton, San Diego State University, Cal Poly Pomona, California State University, Los Angeles, California State University, Fresno and California State University, Bakersfield. Broad incumbents are University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), University of Southern California (USC) and University of California, Riverside.
Does California State University, Northridge have an API?
No public API is recorded for California State University, Northridge.
What industry is California State University, Northridge in?
California State University, Northridge's product category is Public Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAAAI, Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.