California State University, Northridge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
California State University,
Northridge

Former names	San Fernando Valley State College (1958–1972) Satellite campus of Los Angeles State College (1952–1958)
Motto	Vox Veritas Vita (Latin)
Motto in English	"Speak the truth as a way of life"
Type	Public university
Established	1958; 67 years ago (1958)
Parent institution	California State University
Accreditation	WSCUC
Academic affiliations	CUMU
Endowment	$206.7 million (2023)
Budget	$549.8 million (2023)
President	Erika D. Beck
Provost	Meera Komarraju
Academic staff	2,187 (Fall 2021)
Administrative staff	1,805 (Fall 2021)
Students	38,551 (Fall 2021)
Undergraduates	34,275 (Fall 2021)
Postgraduates	4,276 (Fall 2021)
Location	Northridge, Los Angeles , California , United States 34°14′30″N 118°31′42″W / 34.24167°N 118.52833°W / 34.24167; -118.52833
Campus	Large city, 356 acres (144 ha)
Newspaper	Daily Sundial
Colors	Red and black
Nickname	Matadors
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I – Big West MPSF
Mascot	Matty the Matador

California State University, Northridge (CSUN or Cal State Northridge) is a large public university in Northridge, California. It is one of the biggest universities in the United States. As of Fall 2021, over 38,500 students attend CSUN. The university plays a big part in California's economy, creating about $1.9 billion each year.

CSUN started in 1952 as a satellite campus of California State University, Los Angeles. In 1958, it became its own college called San Fernando Valley State College. The university changed its name to California State University, Northridge in 1972. In 1994, a big earthquake hit Northridge. It caused $400 million in damage to the campus. This was the most damage ever seen at an American college campus.

The university offers many different study programs. Students can choose from 134 bachelor's and master's degree programs. There are also 4 doctoral degrees and 24 teaching programs. CSUN is known for its "Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs" classification.

CSUN is also home to the National Center on Deafness. It hosts a big yearly event called the International Conference on Technology and Persons with Disabilities. This university helps many Hispanic students and is known as a Hispanic-serving institution.

Discovering CSUN: A Look at Its History

How CSUN Began

CSUN's story started in 1952. There was a plan for a new campus for Los Angeles State College. At first, it was going to be in Baldwin Hills. But people from the San Fernando Valley convinced state officials to move it to Northridge. The official start of construction happened on January 4, 1956. The Governor of California, Goodwin Knight, was there. When it started, the area was mostly farmland.

Early Years: 1956–1965

Classes at CSUN began on September 24, 1956. About 1,500 students attended in temporary buildings. In 1958, the campus became its own college. It was named San Fernando Valley State College. Ralph Prator became the first president. Student numbers grew quickly, reaching 2,525. Tuition was only $29 per semester back then.

The first graduation ceremony for about 100 students was held at the Hollywood Bowl. In 1959, the university got its own computer. This was a big deal for a State College. By 1964, nearly 12,000 students were enrolled. Many new buildings were built to keep up with the growth. In 1963, the university started its own radio station, KCSN, which is still on air today.

Important people visited the campus during these years. In 1960, Lyndon B. Johnson, who later became president, held a rally. In 1964, Nelson Rockefeller, a Republican candidate, also held a rally. These visits show how the university was becoming an important place.

Growth and Change: 1966–1972

Even though it was in a quiet area, the campus saw many changes during the Vietnam War era. Students held large protests against the war. Important leaders like Hubert Humphrey and Robert F. Kennedy visited the campus. Their speeches often focused on the war.

In 1968, there were protests about civil rights. A group of African American students held staff members in a building. They wanted more minority students and staff. They also wanted minority studies departments. Their demands were met, and new departments were created.

The campus also hosted famous musicians. Janis Joplin performed in 1968. The Newport Pop Festival was held nearby in 1969. It brought 200,000 people to see artists like Jimi Hendrix and Marvin Gaye.

Despite the changes, the university kept growing. Construction of the Oviatt Library began in 1971. On June 1, 1972, the college officially became California State University, Northridge.

Modern Era: 1973–1997

The university library, now called the University Library, opened in 1973. By 1977, student enrollment reached over 28,000. In 1981, CSUN started a program for foreign exchange students. This allowed students to study in countries like Japan and Brazil.

A major event happened on January 17, 1994. The 1994 Northridge earthquake caused huge damage to the campus. It cost $400 million to fix. Many buildings were badly damaged, including parts of the library. The parking structure next to the Matadome was completely destroyed.

Even with all the damage, classes started only two weeks late. Students attended classes in tents and temporary buildings. The campus was slowly rebuilt. After the earthquake, CSUN students and teachers helped research how to make buildings safer from quakes.

Recent Years: 1997–Present

After the earthquake, new buildings were constructed. University Hall and Manzanita Hall opened in 2003. In 2007, CSUN built a large fuel cell power plant. It was the biggest of its kind at any university.

Students continued to be active in campus life. When tuition fees increased, students protested. They formed groups like "Students Against Rising Tuition." Many politicians also visited the campus, including Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris.

New buildings and centers continued to open. These included the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts (2011) and the Student Recreation Center (2012). The university also received large donations. In 2021, CSUN received $40 million from MacKenzie Scott. It also received $25 million from Apple. This money helped create a Global Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Equity Innovation Hub. This hub helps students from diverse backgrounds prepare for STEM careers.

Like many places, CSUN was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Classes moved online in March 2020. The campus also became a vaccination site. About 250,000 people were vaccinated there.

Learning at CSUN: Academics and Programs

Who Studies at CSUN?

Undergraduate demographics as of Fall 2020

Race and ethnicity	Total
Hispanic	53%	53
White	21%	21
Asian	9%	9
Other	7%	7
Foreign national	6%	6
Black	5%	5
Economic diversity
Low-income	64%	64
Affluent	36%	36

In Fall 2018, over 60,000 people applied to CSUN. About half of them were accepted. CSUN has a large number of Latino students, especially those from Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.

CSUN is also a popular choice for international students. For the 2015–2016 school year, CSUN had the most international students among Master's institutions in the United States. There were 3,924 international students that year.

Different Colleges at CSUN

CSUN is divided into nine main colleges. Each college focuses on different subjects:

• Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, & Communication
• College of Humanities
• College of Science and Mathematics
• College of Social & Behavioral Sciences
• David Nazarian College of Business & Economics
• Michael D. Eisner College of Education
• College of Engineering & Computer Science
• College of Health & Human Development
• Roland Tseng College of Extended Learning

Special Programs

CSUN offers some unique programs. One is a dual degree program with Southwestern Law School. Students can earn both a bachelor's degree and a law degree in six years instead of seven.

The Roland Tseng College of Extended Learning helps working adults. It offers courses for people who want to keep learning throughout their lives.

CSUN also partners with California Community Colleges for nursing students. This program helps students earn a bachelor's degree in nursing faster. Partner colleges include Glendale Community College and Los Angeles Valley College.

Central American Studies

CSUN has a special department for Central American Studies. It is the only program in the United States that focuses on Central Americans. This program helps students learn about the history and culture of Central Americans. It started in 2000 and offers a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Research and Discoveries at CSUN

CSUN is known for preparing students for advanced studies. Many CSUN graduates go on to earn PhDs. This shows that CSUN provides a strong foundation for future researchers. Alumni from CSUN have become professors at top universities like Princeton University and Cornell University.

The university also conducts a lot of research. Since 2015, CSUN receives about $35 million each year for research projects. The College of Math and Science gets a large portion of this funding.

To support research, CSUN built a special facility called Lilac Hall. It has labs for studying energy and new materials. CSUN also works with other universities on research. For example, it collaborates with UCLA on stem cell research. It also works with Princeton University and NASA. In 2019, NASA gave CSUN $3 million to create a research center for autonomous systems like artificial intelligence.

CSUN is home to the San Fernando Observatory. This observatory has been used since 1976 to study the sun. It helps scientists around the world understand changes in the sun's energy. CSUN also has a planetarium and a nighttime observatory. Together, these form the only full astronomy network in the California State University system.

CSUN students and teachers even designed a small satellite called CSUNSat1. It was funded by NASA. The satellite was launched into space in 2017. Its mission is to test a new energy storage system. This system could help future space missions use less energy.

Many CSUN faculty members have won important awards for their research. These include Guggenheim Fellowships and Fulbright awards.

CSUN's Achievements and Rankings

CSUN is recognized for many things:

• In 2023, U.S. News & World Report ranked CSUN 13th among Top Public Schools in the West.
• The Wall Street Journal ranked CSUN 2nd for its diverse learning environment.
• Money Magazine ranked CSUN 45th nationally in its 2020-21 Best Colleges list.
• CSUN's film and music schools are considered among the best in the U.S. and the world.
• In 2020, Washington Monthly ranked CSUN 6th for "Best Bang for the Buck" in the western region.
• Forbes ranked CSUN 92nd in its 2019 list of America's Best Value Colleges.
• CSUN is ranked 4th in the U.S. for social mobility, meaning it helps students from all backgrounds succeed.
• CSUN is a top university for awarding bachelor's and master's degrees to Hispanic students.
• The undergraduate engineering program is highly ranked among public colleges.
• CSUN was named an Innovation and Economic Prosperity (IEP) University in 2018.

Exploring the CSUN Campus

Interesting Places to Visit

The CSUN Botanic Garden is a beautiful spot on campus. It's used for teaching biology students. It also helps the community learn about plants and sustainable gardening. You can still see an old orange grove on campus. This grove reminds us of the area's farming past. Tall eucalyptus trees also line the campus, acting as historic windbreaks.

University Library

The CSUN University Library is a modern building. It helps students and teachers with their studies and research. The library has over 2,500 places to study. It also has computer labs and special workstations for students with disabilities.

The library has a huge collection of materials. There are over 1.3 million books and 84,000 online journals. It also has a special system that can store 1.7 million books! In 2020, the library's name was changed to "University Library."

Earthquake Sculpture Garden

Opened in 2003, the Earthquake Sculpture Garden remembers the 1994 Northridge earthquake. This garden has pieces of the collapsed parking structure mixed into the plants. It's a quiet place that honors the event that greatly affected the campus.

Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts

The Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts is a large performance venue. It was finished in 2011 and cost $125 million. It has a big concert hall with 1,700 seats. It also has a smaller theater and rehearsal rooms. In 2017, the center was renamed after a generous $17 million donation.

Student Recreation Center

The Student Recreation Center is a huge facility for exercise. It's 138,000 square feet! It opened in 2012 and cost over $62 million. Students can use it for many activities and sports.

University Student Union

The University Student Union (USU) is a non-profit organization for students. It helps make college life better by offering activities, programs, and job chances. The USU complex is being rebuilt and expanded. This project, called "The New Heart of Campus," will cost about $130 million. It will create a new three-story building and renovate other areas.

Pride Center

The CSUN Pride Center supports students of all orientations. It opened in 2012 and is located in the University Student Union.

Veteran Resource Center

The Veteran Resource Center (VRC) helps student veterans. It's a place where veterans can find support and connect with others. The VRC offers resources like computers and a quiet rest area. It also has a mentoring program to help veterans adjust to college life.

Oasis Wellness Center

The Oasis Wellness Center opened in 2015. It's a peaceful place for students to relax and de-stress. It offers services like massage therapy, power-napping pods, and yoga classes. It helps students stay calm and focused on their studies.

CSUN Food Pantry

The CSUN Food Pantry helps students who need basic items. It provides free food and personal care items. This service started in 2017 to ensure students' academic success isn't affected by a lack of necessities. It's open to all CSUN students, staff, and local community members.

National Center on Deafness

The National Center on Deafness was created in 1972. It helps deaf students at the university. The center provides services like sign language interpreters and notetakers. It also offers academic advice and is a gathering place for deaf students.

The CSUN Conference gives out awards for leadership in disability and technology. It also publishes a journal about technology and people with disabilities.

Filming Location for Movies and TV

Because it's close to Hollywood, CSUN's campus is often used for filming. Its modern buildings make it a great backdrop. Many movies and TV shows have been filmed here, including:

• American Idol
• The Karate Kid
• The Office
• Star Trek (the library was used as Starfleet Academy!)
• Superbad
• The Good Place

CSUN Sports: The Matadors

CSUN has 19 sports teams that compete at the NCAA Division I level. These teams include men's and women's basketball, soccer, volleyball, and track and field. They also have baseball, softball, beach volleyball, tennis, and water polo.

CSUN moved to Division I in 1990. Before that, the university won 34 national titles at the Division II level. Most CSUN teams are part of the Big West Conference. The men's and women's indoor track and field teams and the men's volleyball team compete in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.

Since joining Division I, CSUN has had two teams finish as national runner-up: men's volleyball in 1993 and softball in 1994. The softball team made it to the championship game in 1994. In 2010, the men's volleyball team was ranked number one in the nation for a while.

The men's basketball team has made it to the NCAA tournament twice, in 2001 and 2009. The women's basketball team won the Big West Championship in 2014.

CSUN's sports teams are called the Matadors. In 1958, students voted for "Matadors" as the mascot. The school colors are red and white.

CSUN also has boxing teams and an Esports Club. The Esports Club has teams for popular video games like League of Legends and Overwatch.

Life at CSUN: Campus Community

Clubs and Organizations

CSUN encourages students to join clubs and organizations. There are over 300 student clubs! Students can also start a new club through the Matador Involvement Center. All clubs must agree to a "non-hazing" contract. CSUN has a strict rule against any form of hazing.

You can find information about all the clubs on the CSUN Mata Sync Page. This page lets you search for clubs by category, like Community Service, Cultural, Sports, or Religious.

Fraternities and Sororities

CSUN has many fraternities and sororities. These groups are part of different councils. They offer social activities and community service. For example, Greek organizations established the Matador Patrol over twenty years ago. This group helps campus police by providing safety escorts for students.

CSUN has a strict "zero tolerance" policy for hazing. All clubs and organizations must follow this rule.

Besides Greek life, there are many other types of clubs. These include political, religious, and cultural groups. Examples are Chabad at CSUN for Jewish students and MEChA.

Campus Events

Noontime Concerts

The Associated Students (AS) used to host weekly concerts on Wednesdays at noon. These concerts featured local and national bands. Famous groups like Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, No Doubt, Rage Against the Machine, and Red Hot Chili Peppers performed.

Big Show

Since 2001, the Associated Students has organized the "Big Show." This is a large concert held on the Oviatt Lawn. Students vote for the type of music and the artists they want to see. Past performers include Ludacris, Big Sean, and Dillon Francis.

Big Lecture

Since 2011, CSUN has also hosted the "Big Lecture" series. Influential people share their experiences and careers with students. Famous speakers have included Magic Johnson, Viola Davis, and Laverne Cox.

Campus Media

CSUN has its own media outlets:

• KCSN radio station
• The Daily Sundial: the college newspaper
• Valley View News: a student television station
• Scene Magazine: a student-created magazine
• Northridge Magazine

Notable Programs

3 WINS Fitness

3 WINS Fitness is a free exercise program. It offers workout plans for local communities in Southern California. CSUN kinesiology students volunteer to lead these programs. In 2012, the program was recognized by the White House. It won an award in First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" video challenge.

Famous People from CSUN

CSUN has over 350,000 alumni (former students). Many of them have become famous in different fields.

Politics and Government

Some former faculty members have become high-ranking officials in other countries. These include Mohamed Morsi, who was the 5th President of Egypt. In the U.S., CSUN alumni have held important government roles. These include Doug Emhoff, the first Second Gentleman of the United States (husband of Vice President Kamala Harris). Others include Linda Lingle, a former Governor of Hawaii, and Mike Curb, a former Lieutenant Governor of California.

Business Leaders

CSUN graduates have also become successful in business. Lee Soo-man founded SM Entertainment, a huge entertainment company in South Korea. Gene Haas founded Haas F1 Team, a Formula 1 racing team. Other alumni have been leaders at big companies like Disney, Hilton Worldwide, and Wells Fargo.

Entertainment and the Arts

Many CSUN alumni have won major awards in entertainment. These include Academy Awards, Grammy Awards, Emmy Awards, and Golden Globes. Famous alumni include:

• Paula Abdul, singer and choreographer
• John Densmore, drummer for The Doors
• Richard Dreyfuss, actor
• Jenna Elfman, actress
• Phil Hartman, comedian and actor
• Cheech Marin, comedian
• Andy Summers, guitarist for The Police
• Serj Tankian, frontman for System of a Down
• Diane Warren, songwriter
• Alyson Hannigan, actress
• Eva Longoria, actress

Writers and Journalists

CSUN has produced three Pulitzer Prize winners: Frank del Olmo, Paul Pringle, and Ken Lubas. Journalist Ana Kasparian also graduated from CSUN.

Scientists and Astronauts

In science, CSUN alumni include astronaut Scott J. Horowitz, who flew four Space Shuttle missions. Adriana Ocampo is a planetary geologist at NASA. Olympia LePoint worked as an engineer for NASA Space Shuttle missions.

Athletes

Former students have won many Olympic medals. These include Jeanette Bolden, Valerie Brisco-Hooks, Alice Brown, and Florence Griffith Joyner. All four of these Olympic medalists were coached by CSUN alumnus Bob Kersee.

CSUN alumni have also become professional baseball players. These include Jason Thompson and Robert Fick, who were both MLB All-Stars.

Images for kids

• 

  Mohammed Morsi, 5th President of Egypt

• 

  Doug Emhoff, Second Gentleman of the United States

• 

  Eva Longoria, award-winning actress

• 

  Linda Lingle, 6th Governor of Hawaii

• 

  Scott J. Horowitz, NASA astronaut

• 

  Mike Curb, 42nd Lieutenant Governor of California and musician

• 

  Stan Polovets, former CEO of the Alfa Group Consortium and current CEO of the Genesis Prize Foundation

• 

  Richard Dreyfuss, Academy Award–winning actor

• 

  Paula Abdul, Emmy and Grammy Award-winning singer and choreographer

• 

  Kathleen Utgoff, former Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics

• 

  Alyson Hannigan, award-winning actress

• 

  Gene Haas, founder and owner of Haas F1 Team and Haas Automation

• 

  Andy Summers, guitarist for The Police

• 

  Phil Hartman, Emmy Award–winning comedian and actor

• 

  Serj Tankian, frontman of System of a Down

• 

  Diane Warren, Emmy, Grammy, Golden Globe, and Academy Award–winning musician

• 

  Nury Martinez, 25th President of the Los Angeles City Council

• 

  John Densmore, drummer of The Doors

• 

  Jenna Elfman, Golden Globe Award–winning actress

• 

  Lt Gen Christopher Bogdan, former Program Executive Officer of the Joint Strike Fighter program

• 

  Cheech Marin, Grammy Award–winning comedian

• 

  Nicole Avant, 13th Ambassador to the Bahamas

• 

  Vincent Barabba, two-time Director of the United States Census Bureau

• 

  Mike Elizondo, Grammy Award-winning music producer and songwriter