The new logo uses the school's colors of black and red to visually highlight the university's Northridge identity and school name.

"Cal State Northridge is indispensable to the region we serve," said Northridge President Jolene Koester. "This new university logo should help strengthen the university's identity both here and across the country, and help us carry our message that Northridge is the cultural, educational and economic engine of our region."

The new logo incorporates the full name of the institution ‹ California State University, Northridge. Visually, the "California State University" text is displayed in smaller black letters above "Northridge" in large type using Matador red.

The new logo was approved by the president and her cabinet following several months of previews and consultations with a wide range of campus constituency groups, including the Faculty Senate, Associated Students and the university's Community Advisory Board.

The new word mark replaces the symbolic graphic image of the Oviatt Library columns that the university has used as its mark in recent years.