Quad

Head-to-head

U. Houston-Downtown
California State University-Northridge

Key differences

The biggest gaps between these schools, largest first.

  1. 1

    California State University-Northridge graduates 16 pts more of its students than U. Houston-Downtown (71% vs. 55%)

    Graduation rate
  2. 2

    California State University-Northridge has 2.6× as many undergrads as U. Houston-Downtown

    Undergrads
  3. 3

    California State University-Northridge grads earn $5.6K more ten years out than U. Houston-Downtown's ($59,115 vs. $53,551)

    Median earnings, 10 yrs
  4. 4

    U. Houston-Downtown's yield is 2 pts higher than California State University-Northridge's

    Yield rate
  5. 5

    California State University-Northridge is more diverse (index 0.62 vs. 0.60)

    Diversity index
  6. 6

    California State University-Northridge has 1 pts more first-gen students than U. Houston-Downtown (54% vs. 53%)

    First-generation students

The shape of each school

Each axis is a national rank among 4-year colleges; further out = more of it.

SelectivityTest scoresSizePell shareFirst-genDiversity

Hollow dots at the center mean that measure isn't reported.

Who's hardest to get into

U. Houston-Downtown admits 90%, California State University-Northridge 93%; U. Houston-Downtown's yield is higher, at 20%.

Acceptance rate
U. Houston-Downtown90%
California State University-Northridge93%
Quad's selectivity
  • U. Houston-DowntownOpen
  • California State University-NorthridgeOpen
SAT middle 50%Axis 800–1600
U. Houston-Downtown
940–1110
California State University-NorthridgeTest-blind
How they read a recordfirst-years at 3.75+
  • U. Houston-DowntownRigor, GPA, and tests very important20%
  • California State University-NorthridgeGPA, school record, and prep program required

Who's on each campus

California State University-Northridge has 2.6× as many undergrads as U. Houston-Downtown and has the larger Pell share.

Undergrads
U. Houston-Downtown12.6K
California State University-Northridge32.7K
Pell Grant share
U. Houston-Downtown55%
California State University-Northridge56%

Majors and faculty

Psychology leads at U. Houston-Downtown, and Business Administration and Management at California State University-Northridge.

Students per faculty member
U. Houston-Downtown18 to 1
California State University-Northridge25 to 1
Most popular majorshare of graduates
  • U. Houston-DowntownPsychology, General10%
  • California State University-NorthridgeBusiness Administration and Management, General15%

What each costs

Only California State University-Northridge reports an average cost ($14.2K).

Average cost, all students
U. Houston-DowntownNot reported
California State University-Northridge$14.2K
Aid generosity
U. Houston-DowntownNot reported
California State University-Northridge43%

What each pays off

California State University-Northridge's former students earn more, a median $59.1K ten years after enrolling; both graduate more than 50% within six years.

Median earnings, 10 years
U. Houston-Downtown$53.6K
California State University-Northridge$59.1K
Graduation rate
U. Houston-Downtown55%
California State University-Northridge71%

How each has changed

Applications grew at U. Houston-Downtown but held steady at California State University-Northridge; both got less selective.

Applications, 10-year change
  • U. Houston-DowntownGrowing+102%
  • California State University-NorthridgeSteady−1%
All the numbersEvery figure for these colleges in one table, with differences highlighted.
Sources for this comparisonEvery dataset and year behind the numbers in this comparison; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;University of Houston-Downtown Common Data Set 2023–24, Fall 2023;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D), Fall 2024;IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field), 2024–25 graduates;College Scorecard, 2023–24;IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients), Entered fall 2018About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why