CSUN Acceptance Rate

California State University, Northridge (CSUN), located in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, is a prominent public university within the California State University system. For the most recent admission cycle (Class of 2028), CSUN reported an overall acceptance rate of approximately 91.1%, reflecting its commitment to accessible higher education. This rate is influenced by a large and diverse applicant pool, with over 20,000 applications received annually in recent years, as well as trends toward increased demand for public university education in California. While CSUN does not always publish detailed admission statistics for every category, some data is available through its official admissions website and historical Common Data Sets at www.csun.edu.

• Overall Acceptance Rate: 91.1% for the Class of 2028, with approximately 20,500 applicants and 18,700 admitted students, consistent with prior years.
• Early Action/Decision Rate: Data unavailable for the most recent cycle. Historically, CSUN does not offer early action or early decision options, as it operates on a rolling admissions basis for most programs.
• International Student Rate: Data unavailable for Class of 2028. Based on historical trends, international student acceptance rates are typically slightly lower, estimated at around 85.0%, due to additional admission requirements.

Over the past few years, CSUN’s acceptance rate has remained relatively stable, hovering around 88-91%, indicating a consistent level of accessibility compared to more selective institutions in the region, such as UCLA or USC, which have acceptance rates below 20%. The university’s focus on serving a broad demographic, including first-generation and local students, contributes to its higher acceptance rate. While there is no significant shift toward increased competitiveness, application numbers have grown slightly due to the rising cost of private education, pushing more students toward public options like CSUN. Compared to peer CSU campuses, such as CSU Long Beach or CSU Fullerton, CSUN’s selectivity is average, making it an attractive choice for students seeking a balance of affordability and academic opportunity in Southern California.