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California State University-Bakersfield

Public Graduate Strong 77/100

California State University-Bakersfield

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Bakersfield, California

About California State University-Bakersfield

California State University-Bakersfield is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Bakersfield, California. It enrolls 8,577 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: csub.edu

Acceptance: 93.9%
Graduation: 31.1%
Net Price: $5,652
Median Earnings (10yr): $59,009
Enrollment: 8,577
Student : Faculty: 16:1

Accreditor Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong

77/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 47

Value 99

Affordability 95

Selectivity 12

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 93.9%, California State University-Bakersfield is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate

93.9%

Open

SAT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

ACT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

Test Policy Test Optional Applicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether California State University-Bakersfield is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Becoming less selective ↑ 7.5 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending California State University-Bakersfield isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $5,652 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$5,652

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

61%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

23%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state): $8,090
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state): $20,690
Room & Board (on-campus): $15,076
Room & Board (off-campus): $17,674
Books & Supplies: $954
Other Expenses (on-campus): $3,702
Other Expenses (off-campus): $6,714
Total Cost of Attendance: $19,522

Application fee: $70 (one-time, due at submission)

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$3,536
$30,001 – $48,000

$3,817
$48,001 – $75,000

$5,835
$75,001 – $110,000

$9,480
Over $110,000

$16,069

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$2,333

10% percentile

$4,500

25% percentile

$16,600

Median percentile

$20,835

75% percentile

$31,000

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $11,250 ↓ $5,350

No Pell $11,583 ↓ $5,017

Dependent students $10,193 ↓ $6,407

Independent students $12,500 ↓ $4,100

Female students $11,198 ↓ $5,402

Male students $11,515 ↓ $5,085

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $10,843, less than completers ($16,600), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

31% of full-time students who enrolled at California State University-Bakersfield graduate within six years, and 79% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

31%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

79%

Returning for their second year

What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered California State University-Bakersfield earn a median of $59,009 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$59,009

Earning > $25K

78%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$45,900

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$58,600

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$49,000

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$50,500

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$52,900

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $12,700, about 22% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 15.2 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Strong. 74% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

California State University-Bakersfield is home to 8,577 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 58% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled

8,577

Part-Time

17%

First-Generation

58%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

Hispanic 69.6% 5,966

White 12.1% 1,041

Asian 6.5% 554

Black 4.2% 360

Other 2.6% 226

International 1.3% 111

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at California State University-Bakersfield. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Large City Bakersfield, California

Housing

Limited on-campus housing 500 beds

Adult Learners

24% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

Designation

Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)

What You Can Study

California State University-Bakersfield offers an extensive catalog of programs: 54 distinct programs across 23 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

2 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)

1 Program

Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)

4 Programs

Health

Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Health Administration $59K ($42K–$80K)
Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)

4 Programs

Biology

Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)
Biological and Biomedical Sciences $66K ($43K–$91K)
Biochemistry & Biophysics $65K ($45K–$88K)

3 Programs

Public Administration

Social Work $52K ($39K–$64K)
Public Administration $65K ($47K–$87K)
Public Administration $65K ($47K–$87K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at California State University-Bakersfield is 16:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty

16:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$8,696

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$37M

Modest endowment

Avg Faculty Salary

$92,464

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

337 instructional faculty across 4 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	72	21%	$120,281
Associate Professors	81	24%	$101,044
Assistant Professors	85	25%	$85,558
Lecturers	99	29%	$71,141

Pros & Cons of California State University-Bakersfield

A quick at-a-glance summary of how California State University-Bakersfield tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Very affordable net price after aid
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Solid post-graduation earnings
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body

CONS

Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years

Best for: Based on the data, California State University-Bakersfield is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low.

Frequently Asked Questions about California State University-Bakersfield

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about California State University-Bakersfield.

Is California State University-Bakersfield hard to get into?

California State University-Bakersfield has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 93.9%.

What is the acceptance rate at California State University-Bakersfield?

California State University-Bakersfield has an acceptance rate of 93.9%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

How much does California State University-Bakersfield cost?

The average net price after aid at California State University-Bakersfield is $5,652 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is California State University-Bakersfield worth it?

Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $59,009 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $5,652 per year. That's roughly 10.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is California State University-Bakersfield known for?

California State University-Bakersfield is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Liberal Arts, Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do California State University-Bakersfield graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering California State University-Bakersfield are $59,009, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is California State University-Bakersfield accredited?

Yes. California State University-Bakersfield is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.

How many students attend California State University-Bakersfield?

California State University-Bakersfield enrolls 8,577 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at California State University-Bakersfield?

California State University-Bakersfield graduates 31% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is California State University-Bakersfield a public or private college?

California State University-Bakersfield is a Public institution.

Where is California State University-Bakersfield located?

California State University-Bakersfield is located in Bakersfield, California.

What programs does California State University-Bakersfield offer?

California State University-Bakersfield offers 54 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Liberal Arts, Psychology.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at California State University-Bakersfield?

The student-to-faculty ratio at California State University-Bakersfield is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.