In Strategic Communication and Brand Management

CSUN Rankings and Pride Points

CSUN Rankings and Pride Points are high-level accolades compiled by the Strategic Communication and Brand Management team.

Newest Accolades

Recognized for Higher Access, Medium Earnings in the 2025 Student Access and Earnings Classification by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation, honoring CSUN’s student access and earnings impact. [April 24, 2025]
Awarded Gold status as a 2025–2026 Military Friendly® School and also named a 2025–2026 Military Spouse Friendly® School. [April 7, 2025]

#1 for the economic diversity of students out of public colleges nationwide, according to The New York Times.
- CSUN was also the #12 public college for economic mobility and #23 for low net price. [Updated Nov. 2023]
#1 largest Jewish population in California and #14 nationally, per Hillel. [Sept. 2024]
#3 in the nation for awarding bachelor’s degrees in the area, cultural, ethnic, gender and group studies, and communication, journalism and related programs, per the Chronicle of Higher Education. [Aug. 8, 2024]
#3 for bachelor’s degrees granted to Hispanic/Latino students, per Hispanic Outlook on Education Magazine. [Oct. 2024]
#3 for awarding bachelor’s degrees to Latinx/a/o/Hispanic students nationally, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. [2022 data]
#4 master’s university based on contributions to the public good in social mobility, research and promoting public service. — Washington Monthly.
- CSUN was also Washington Monthly’s #6 Best Bang for the Buck College in the West. [Aug. 25, 2024]
#6 among Most Transformative Colleges in the nation, per Money. [Nov. 2020]
#7 on the AASHE 2024 Sustainable Campus Index among master’s institutions. [Sept. 10, 2024]

#9 in the California Mobility Index for advancing economic and social mobility, per the College Futures Foundation. [Feb. 20, 2025]
#9 for social mobility in the nation. — Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2025 Best Colleges in the U.S. [Sept. 4, 2024]
#9 top public school among regional universities in the West, per U.S. News & World Report. [Sept. 24, 2024]
#11 on the national Social Mobility Index by CollegeNET. [Sept. 2024]
#13 for graduates who go on to earn research degrees among similar institutions (Carnegie Master's Colleges and Universities), per the National Science Foundation.
#15 nationally among schools offering an animation-related B.A., and recognized among the top programs in California and the West, per Animation Career Review. [March 25, 2025]
Billboard’s Top Music Business Schools. [Oct. 2024]
CSUN’s Department of Cinema and Television Arts is included among:
- Variety’s Top Film Schools in North America. [April 2024]
- The Hollywood Reporter’s Best Film Schools in the U.S., at #23. [Aug. 16, 2024]
- TheWrap’s Top 50 Film Schools. [Nov. 4, 2024]
#18 among the 20 Best Music Schools in the World, per The Hollywood Reporter. [Nov. 22, 2024]

Awarded the prestigious Seal of Excelencia, by Excelencia in Education. [Sept. 2023]
Money’s Best Colleges — 4.5 stars. [June 2024]
A Fulbright HSI Leader, for the fourth straight year, per the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. [Nov. 3, 2024]
An official Tree Campus USA, per the Arbor Day Foundation. [Updated June 2024]
4.5 stars on the Campus Pride Index.
A Movement Maker, per the Association of College and University Educators, for demonstrating an enduring commitment to the success of all students. [June 2023]
The largest enrollment of students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing among mainstream universities in the nation.
Sierra magazine Cool School. [2021]
An official Bee Campus USA Affiliate. [Certified 2018]
An Equity Champion for Higher Education, per the Campaign for College Opportunity. [2021]
The long-running Assistive Technology Conference, sponsored by our Center on Disabilities, is the premier event in the field of technology for persons with disabilities.
Ranked Tier One by CEO Magazine, the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics MBA program is among the best in the 2025 Global MBA rankings. [March 24, 2025]
One of just six universities in California—and 194 worldwide—to earn dual AACSB accreditation in business and accounting. [Feb. 5, 2025]