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California Baptist University

CBU

Riverside, California 92504-3297

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Campus Vibe

Mid-SizeUrbanPrivate

Known for health sciences

California Baptist University is a private institution in Riverside with particular strength in health sciences and business.

A mid-sized campus of 7.9K undergraduates with a 20:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

60% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $61,504 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $27,384.

Established
1950
Motto
Live Your Purpose
Type
Private university
Division
Division II

Plan Your Visit

74%Acceptance
SAT Avg
7,914Students
20:1Student:Faculty
60%Grad Rate
$61,504Earnings 10yr
$27,384Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

California Baptist University Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate73.6%

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

73.6%

Trend

Yield Rate

35.0%

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$39,720
Room & Board$11,630
Books & Supplies$938
Total Cost of Attendance$52,408
Average Net Price$27,384
Median Debt at Graduation$26,063
Monthly Payment (10yr)$276

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$23,788
$30–48K$24,409
$48–75K$23,799
$75–110K$28,057
$110K+$34,648

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

37.4%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$20,500

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

59

Peer Average

37

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus police, emergency alert system, blue-light phones

Incident Breakdown (2024)

15

Burglary

3

Aggravated Assault

2

Robbery

5

Motor Vehicle Theft

6

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

16

Drug Arrests

12

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (119)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

74%

Negative
  • 74% first-year retention rate
  • Active student organizations
  • Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
7,914
Gender Split
62% / 38%
Women / Men
First Generation
42%
Pell Grant Recipients
41%

Race & Ethnicity

White 32%
Black 6%
Hispanic 42%
Asian 6%
Two+ 6%
Int'l 2%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate59.5%
Freshman Retention74.2%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$52,336
10 Years$61,504

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#45
2
vs 2024
Forbes
#52
1
vs 2024
Niche
#38
3
vs 2024

More About This School

Varsity Sports — Lancers

Water polo

History & Fun Facts

  • In 1953, the college moved under the wing of the California Southern Baptist Convention, the same year that the first edition of the Angelos, the college yearbook, was published.
  • In 1954, the college received its charter from the state of California.
  • Soon the college outgrew its facilities, and in 1955 it moved its campus to the then-rural city of Riverside, California.
  • What is now known as the Annie Gabriel Library, was the first to be built in 1921.
  • In 1927, the original administration building was constructed whereas the W.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

LAX Los Angeles56 mi
SAN San Diego84 mi
LAS Las Vegas197 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA2553 mi · ~73h 45m drive
New York, NY2406 mi · ~69h 30m drive
Hartford, CT2472 mi · ~71h 25m drive
Providence, RI2537 mi · ~73h 17m drive
Albany, NY2415 mi · ~69h 46m drive
Syracuse, NY2294 mi · ~66h 16m drive
Rochester, NY2221 mi · ~64h 10m drive
Buffalo, NY2156 mi · ~62h 17m drive
Philadelphia, PA2348 mi · ~67h 50m drive
Pittsburgh, PA2093 mi · ~60h 28m drive
Harrisburg, PA2256 mi · ~65h 10m drive
Newark, NJ2398 mi · ~69h 17m drive
Washington, DC2253 mi · ~65h 5m drive
Baltimore, MD2274 mi · ~65h 42m drive
Atlanta, GA1888 mi · ~54h 33m drive
Charlotte, NC2071 mi · ~59h 50m drive
Raleigh, NC2189 mi · ~63h 14m drive
Miami, FL2288 mi · ~66h 6m drive
Orlando, FL2151 mi · ~62h 8m drive
Tampa, FL2103 mi · ~60h 45m drive
Nashville, TN1733 mi · ~50h 4m drive
New Orleans, LA1622 mi · ~46h 51m drive
Richmond, VA2240 mi · ~64h 43m drive
Chicago, IL1705 mi · ~49h 15m drive
Detroit, MI1942 mi · ~56h 6m drive
Minneapolis, MN1489 mi · ~43h 1m drive
St. Louis, MO1545 mi · ~44h 38m drive
Kansas City, MO1314 mi · ~37h 58m drive
Indianapolis, IN1766 mi · ~51h 1m drive
Columbus, OH1934 mi · ~55h 52m drive
Cleveland, OH2006 mi · ~57h 57m drive
Milwaukee, WI1705 mi · ~49h 15m drive
Dallas, TX1191 mi · ~34h 24m drive
Houston, TX1323 mi · ~38h 13m drive
Austin, TX1178 mi · ~34h 2m drive
San Antonio, TX1154 mi · ~33h 20m drive
Los Angeles, CA48 mi · ~1h 23m drive
San Francisco, CA386 mi · ~11h 9m drive
San Diego, CA85 mi · ~2h 27m drive
Seattle, WA979 mi · ~28h 17m drive
Portland, OR847 mi · ~24h 28m drive
Denver, CO795 mi · ~22h 58m drive
Phoenix, AZ309 mi · ~8h 56m drive
Salt Lake City, UT561 mi · ~16h 12m drive
Honolulu, HI2605 mi · ~75h 15m drive
Southern (mild winters, hot summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

Los Angeles (LAX)56 miles
Rental car
84 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
112 min$67-112
San Diego (SAN)84 miles
Rental car
126 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
168 min$101-168

Deadline Calendar

California Baptist University Application Checklist

Decision Notifications

California Baptist University — v2 Preview — TourStack