How Easy is to Get Into Northridge

What are Cal State Northridge's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:

• GPA requirements
• Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
• Application requirements

In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into Cal State Northridge and build a strong application.

School location: Northridge, CA

This school is also known as: CSU Northridge, Cal State Northridge, California State University Northridge

Admissions Rate: 50.6%

If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.

The acceptance rate at Cal State Northridge is 50.6%. For every 100 applicants, 51 are admitted.

This means the school is moderately selective. The school expects you to meet their requirements for GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but they're more flexible than other schools. If you exceed their requirements, you have an excellent chance of getting in. But if you don't, you might be one of the unlucky minority that gets a rejection letter.

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Cal State Northridge GPA Requirements

Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.

The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.

Average GPA: 3.35

The average GPA at Cal State Northridge is 3.35.

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.

With a GPA of 3.35, Cal State Northridge accepts below-average students. It's OK to be a B-average student, with some A's mixed in. It'd be best to avoid C's and D's, since application readers might doubt whether you can handle the stress of college academics.

If you're currently a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change in time for college applications. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 3.35, you'll need a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate. This will help you compete effectively against other applicants who have higher GPAs than you.

SAT and ACT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Most schools require the SAT or ACT, and many also require SAT subject tests.

You must take either the SAT or ACT to submit an application to Cal State Northridge. More importantly, you need to do well to have a strong application.

Cal State Northridge SAT Requirements

Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.

Average SAT: 1030

The average SAT score composite at Cal State Northridge is a 1030 on the 1600 SAT scale.

This score makes Cal State Northridge Lightly Competitive for SAT test scores.

Cal State Northridge SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)

The 25th percentile New SAT score is 930, and the 75th percentile New SAT score is 1130. In other words, a 930 on the New SAT places you below average, while a 1130 will move you up to above average.

Here's the breakdown of new SAT scores by section:

Section	Average	25th Percentile	75th Percentile
Math	510	460	560
Reading + Writing	520	470	570
Composite	1030	930	1130

SAT Score Choice Policy

The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.

Cal State Northridge has the Score Choice policy of "Highest Section."

This is also known as "superscoring." This means that you can choose which SAT tests you want to send to the school. Of all the scores they receive, your application readers will consider your highest section scores across all SAT test dates you submit.

Click below to learn more about how superscoring critically affects your test strategy.

How does superscoring change your test strategy? (Click to Learn)

For example, say you submit the following 3 test scores:

Section	R+W	Math	Composite
Test 1	700	300	1000
Test 2	300	700	1000
Test 3	300	300	600
Superscore	700	700	1400

Even though the highest total you scored on any one test date was 1000, Cal State Northridge will take your highest section score from all your test dates, then combine them to form your Superscore. You can raise your composite score from 1000 to 1400 in this example.

This is important for your testing strategy. Because you can choose which tests to send in, and Cal State Northridge forms your Superscore, you can take the SAT as many times as you want, then submit only the tests that give you the highest Superscore. Your application readers will only see that one score.

Therefore, if your SAT superscore is currently below a 1030, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the SAT and retaking it. You have a very good chance of raising your score, which will significantly boost your chances of getting in.

Even better, because of the Superscore, you can focus all your energy on a single section at a time. If your Reading score is lower than your other sections, prep only for the Reading section, then take the SAT. Then focus on Math for the next test, and so on. This will give you the highest Superscore possible.

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Cal State Northridge ACT Requirements

Just like for the SAT, Cal State Northridge likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.

Average ACT: 19

The average ACT score at Cal State Northridge is 19. This score makes Cal State Northridge Competitive for ACT scores.

The 25th percentile ACT score is 16, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 22.

Even though Cal State Northridge likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 16 or below, you'll have a harder time getting in, unless you have something else impressive in your application.

ACT Score Sending Policy

If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.

Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.

This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 19 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.

ACT Superscore Policy

By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.

We weren't able to find the school's exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore. Regardless, you can choose your single best ACT score to send in to Cal State Northridge, so you should prep until you reach our recommended target ACT score of 19.

Studying for the ACT instead? Want to learn how to improve your ACT score by 4 points?

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and ACT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements

Both the SAT and ACT have an optional essay section.

Cal State Northridge hasn't reported their stance on SAT Essay/ACT Writing, but most likely they consider it to be optional. Thus you don't need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you're applying to may require it.

SAT Subject Test Requirements

Schools vary in their SAT subject test requirements. Typically, selective schools tend to require them, while most schools in the country do not.

We did not find information that Cal State Northridge requires SAT subject tests, and so most likely it does not. At least 6 months before applying, you should still doublecheck just to make sure, so you have enough time to take the test.

Final Admissions Verdict

Because this school is moderately selective, strong academic performance will almost guarantee you admission. Scoring a 1130 SAT or a 22 ACT or above will nearly guarantee you admission. Because the school admits 50.6% of all applicants, being far above average raises the admission rate for you to nearly 100%.

If you can achieve a high SAT/ACT score, the rest of your application essentially doesn't matter. You still need to meet the rest of the application requirements, and your GPA shouldn't be too far off from the school average of 3.35. But you won't need dazzling extracurriculars and breathtaking letters of recommendation to get in. You can get in based on the merits of your score alone.

But if your score is a 930 SAT or a 16 ACT and below, you have a good chance of being one of the unlucky few to be rejected.

Want to build the best possible college application?

We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League.

We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.

Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.

Admissions Calculator

What are your chances of admission at California State University Northridge?

Chances of admission with these scores:

Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are.

Pick your test: New SAT ACT

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Note: Your admission decision relies not only on your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but also on your coursework difficulty, extracurriculars, letters of recommendation, and personal statements. This tool provides only a simplistic estimate of your chances of admission. Instead of treating this tool as a crystal ball, we recommend you consider the big picture of what your chance means:

• 80-100%: Safety school: Strong chance of getting in
• 50-80%: More likely than not getting in
• 20-50%: Lower but still good chance of getting in
• 5-20%: Reach school: Unlikely to get in, but still have a shot
• 0-5%: Hard reach school: Very difficult to get in

We recommend you apply to schools across a range of chances. Applying to some safety schools will guarantee you have a college to go to, while applying to some reach schools will give you a shot at getting into the school at the top of your range.

How would your chances improve with a better score?

Take your current SAT score and add 160 points (or take your ACT score and add 4 points) to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?

At PrepScholar, we've created the leading online SAT/ACT prep program. We guarantee an improvement of 160 SAT points or 4 ACT points on your score, or your money back.

Here's a summary of why we're so much more effective than other prep programs:

• PrepScholar customizes your prep to your strengths and weaknesses. You don't waste time working on areas you already know, so you get more results in less time.
• We guide you through your program step-by-step so that you're never confused about what you should be studying. Focus all your time learning, not worrying about what to learn.
• Our team is made of national SAT/ACT experts. PrepScholar's founders are Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. You'll be studying using the strategies that actually worked for them.
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Application Requirements

Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We'll cover the exact requirements of Cal State Northridge here.

Application Requirements Overview

• Common Application Not accepted
• Universal Application Not accepted
• Electronic Application Available
• Essay or Personal Statement
• Letters of Recommendation
• Interview Not required
• Application Fee $55
• Fee Waiver Available? Available
• Other Notes

Testing Requirements

• SAT or ACT Required
• SAT Essay or ACT Writing None
• SAT Subject Tests
• Scores Due in Office January 15

Coursework Requirements

• Subject Required Years
• English 4
• Math 3
• Science 2
• Foreign Language 2
• Social Studies 1
• History 1
• Electives 1

Deadlines and Early Admissions

• • Offered? Deadline Notification
• Regular Admission
  • Yes Rolling
• Early Action
  • No
• Early Decision
  • No

Other Schools For You

If you're interested in Cal State Northridge, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to Cal State Northridge.

Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into

These schools are have higher average SAT scores than Cal State Northridge. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

School Name	Location	SAT Avg	ACT Avg
California State University Long Beach	Long Beach, CA	1145	23
San Jose State University	San Jose, CA	1145	23
Washington State University	Pullman, WA	1125	23
University of Texas at San Antonio	San Antonio, TX	1125	22
East Carolina University	Greenville, NC	1105	22
Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis	Indianapolis, IN	1100	22
Texas State University	San Marcos, TX	1095	23

Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into

If you're competitive for Cal State Northridge, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.

School Name	Location	SAT Avg	ACT Avg
Radford University	Radford, VA	1041	20
University of Texas at El Paso	El Paso, TX	1040	20
Texas A&M University - Kingsville	Kingsville, TX	1040	20
California State University Sacramento	Sacramento, CA	1035	19
Clark Atlanta University	Atlanta, GA	1030	20
Indiana University of Pennsylvania	Indiana, PA	1017	19
California State University Fresno	Fresno, CA	1010	19

Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into

If you're currently competitive for Cal State Northridge, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If Cal State Northridge is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.

School Name	Location	SAT Avg	ACT Avg
Kean University	Union, NJ	990	20
University of Texas at Brownsville	Brownsville, TX	990	19
California State University Los Angeles	Los Angeles, CA	985	18
State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill	Cobleskill, NY	970	20
Alabama State University	Montgomery, AL	950	18
Saint Elizabeth University	Morristown, NJ	950	16
Albertus Magnus College	New Haven, CT	940	24

Want to build the best possible college application?

We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League.

We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.

Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.

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