Applicants, Acceptance Rate, Yield Trends at CSUN

-4.18%

Applicants - since 2015

47.85%

Acceptance Rate

The average acceptance rate at CSUN over the past 10 years is 69.31%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 93.45%.

The acceptance rate has increased each year for the past 6 years, indicating decreasing selectivity.

The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 25.18%, and the 2025 yield is 17.97%. Overall, the yield has decreased by 49.93% from 2015 to 2025.

The number of CSUN applicants increased by 10.80% (3,216 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants decreased by 4.18% overall.

Key Takeaways: CSUN Admission Metrics

Acceptance Rate Overview

The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 93.45%, showing a decreasing selectivity trend. This suggests that CSUN is admitting a higher proportion of applicants, which may indicate either an increase in application quality or a strategic enrollment decision by the institution.

Yield Rate & Enrollment Patterns

The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 17.97%. The declining yield trend suggests that a lower percentage of admitted students are choosing to enroll at CSUN. This pattern may reflect increased competition from peer institutions, changing student demographics, or shifts in institutional enrollment strategy.

Application Volume & Admission Trends

For the 2025 admission cycle, CSUN received approximately 33,005 applications, admitted 30,842 students, and enrolled 5,543 students. The declining application volume may indicate shifts in student interest patterns or broader demographic changes affecting college enrollment. Understanding these trends is crucial for prospective students and families assessing CSUN's position in the competitive admissions landscape.

Acceptance Rate Changes

CSUN 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at CSUN over the past decade show a pattern of decreasing selectivity, with the acceptance rate rising year-over-year for 6 consecutive years. The average acceptance rate over this period is 69.31%, while the most recent rate stands at 93.45%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.

For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 93.45%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 66.70% and for women is 71.44%.

The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at CSUN have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).

YearTotalMenWomen
2015-16 45.60% 44.35% 46.56%
2016-17 48.24%
2.64%
45.59%
1.24%
50.29%
3.73%
2017-18 57.65%
9.42%
54.13%
8.54%
60.52%
10.23%
2018-19 50.63%
-7.02%
47.39%
-6.74%
53.15%
-7.37%
2019-20 59.34%
8.71%
55.19%
7.80%
62.59%
9.44%
2020-21 65.81%
6.47%
61.95%
6.76%
68.76%
6.17%
2021-22 88.00%
22.19%
85.00%
23.06%
91.00%
22.24%
2022-23 91.23%
3.23%
89.00%
3.99%
93.09%
2.09%
2023-24 93.15%
1.92%
91.90%
2.90%
94.21%
1.12%
2024-25 93.45%
0.30%
92.50%
0.60%
94.24%
0.02%
Average 69.31% 66.70% 71.44%
California State University-Northridge Acceptance Rate Trends Over Time - Historical Admission Rate Data Visualization Chart

Admission Yield (Enrollment Rate) Changes

CSUN has demonstrated a decline in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has decreased from 35.89% in 2015 to 17.97% in 2025, representing a 49.93% decrease. The 10-year average yield stands at 25.18%, reflecting weakening enrollment performance.

The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at CSUN from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has decreased by 49.93% over this period.

YearTotalMenWomen
2015-16 35.89% 38.49% 33.99%
2016-17 28.34%
-7.55%
30.58%
-7.90%
26.76%
-7.23%
2017-18 30.06%
1.72%
32.69%
2.11%
28.14%
1.38%
2018-19 27.22%
-2.83%
30.55%
-2.14%
24.91%
-3.23%
2019-20 26.34%
-0.88%
27.66%
-2.90%
25.43%
0.52%
2020-21 21.98%
-4.36%
24.86%
-2.80%
19.99%
-5.43%
2021-22 23.00%
1.02%
24.00%
-0.86%
21.00%
1.00%
2022-23 20.99%
-2.01%
22.33%
-1.67%
19.92%
-1.08%
2023-24 19.98%
-1.01%
21.36%
-0.97%
18.84%
-1.08%
2024-25 17.97%
-2.01%
18.89%
-2.47%
17.22%
-1.62%
Average 25.18% 27.14% 23.62%
California State University-Northridge enrollment rate trends chart showing historical yield changes from 2015 to 2025

Applicants, Admitted, and Enrolled Headcount Changes

Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 30,322, the average number of admitted is 20,618, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 4,982.

The number of CSUN applicants increased by 10.80% (3,216 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants decreased by 4.18% overall.

The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at California State University-Northridge from 2015 to 2025.

YearApplicantsAdmittedEnrolled
2015-16 34,444 15,706 5,637
2016-17 32,913
-4.44%
15,876
1.08%
4,499
-20.19%
2017-18 30,165
-8.35%
17,391
9.54%
5,227
16.18%
2018-19 34,856
15.55%
17,647
1.47%
4,804
-8.09%
2019-20 30,661
-12.04%
18,194
3.10%
4,792
-0.25%
2020-21 27,765
-9.45%
18,271
0.42%
4,016
-16.19%
2021-22 23,656
-14.80%
20,817
13.93%
4,788
19.22%
2022-23 25,965
9.76%
23,687
13.79%
4,972
3.84%
2023-24 29,789
14.73%
27,748
17.14%
5,545
11.52%
2024-25 33,005
10.80%
30,842
11.15%
5,543
-0.04%
Average 30,322 20,618 4,982
California State University-Northridge - 10 Year Applicants, Admissions, and Enrollment Trends Chart

Compare Acceptance Rate Change to Similar Colleges

The following table compares California State University-Northridge' acceptance rate to similar schools.

20242025Change %
California State University-Northridge93.15%93.45%0.32%
University of California-Davis41.83%41.63%0.48%
California State University-Long Beach46.27%47.12%-1.80%
University of California-Riverside76.39%63.30%20.68%
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo31.32%29.75%5.28%
University of Hawaii at Manoa86.60%69.69%24.26%

Ratings & Review

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