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California State University-Bakersfield

CSU Bakersfield

Bakersfield, California 93311-1099

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Campus Vibe

Mid-SizeUrbanPublic

Known for business — excellent value

California State University-Bakersfield is a public institution in Bakersfield with particular strength in business and psychology.

A mid-sized campus of 8.2K undergraduates with a 16:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

49% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $59,009 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $5,825.

Established
1965
Motto
`Runners on the rise!
Type
Public university
Conference
Pac-12 conference
Division
Division I

Plan Your Visit

88%Acceptance
—SAT Avg
8,183Students
16:1Student:Faculty
49%Grad Rate
$59,009Earnings 10yr
$5,825Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

California State University-Bakersfield 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 Rate88.2%

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

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

88.2%

Trend

Yield Rate

35.0%

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Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition (in-state)$7,696
Tuition (out-of-state)$19,576
Room & Board$14,430
Books & Supplies$1,068
Total Cost of Attendance$18,815
Average Net Price$5,825
Median Debt at Graduation$16,600
Monthly Payment (10yr)$176

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$3,070
$30–48K$3,977
$48–75K$6,183
$75–110K$10,935
$110K+$16,810

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

74.9%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$11,270

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Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

61

Peer Average

92

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus police, emergency alert system, blue-light phones

Incident Breakdown (2024)

16

Burglary

3

Aggravated Assault

2

Robbery

5

Motor Vehicle Theft

7

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 (68)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

80%

Negative
  • •80% 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
8,183
Gender Split
65% / 35%
Women / Men
First Generation
58%
Pell Grant Recipients
61%

Race & Ethnicity

White 12%
Black 4%
Hispanic 69%
Asian 7%
Two+ 2%
Int'l 1%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate49.3%
Freshman Retention79.7%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$44,282
10 Years$59,009

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

Rankings

U.S. News
#31
↑2
vs 2024
Forbes
#295
↓1
vs 2024
Wall Street Journal
#29
↑2
vs 2024
Washington Monthly
#28
↓2
vs 2024

More About This School

Varsity Sports

Golf programBasketballSwimmingSoccerVolleyballTennis

History & Fun Facts

  • •In 1982, the California State College system became the California State University system.
  • •The school changed to its present name in 1988, when it was granted university status.

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 Angeles105 mi
SJC San Jose210 mi
SAN San Diego211 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA2595 mi · ~74h 58m drive
New York, NY2455 mi · ~70h 55m drive
Hartford, CT2516 mi · ~72h 41m drive
Providence, RI2581 mi · ~74h 34m drive
Albany, NY2456 mi · ~70h 57m drive
Syracuse, NY2334 mi · ~67h 26m drive
Rochester, NY2260 mi · ~65h 17m drive
Buffalo, NY2196 mi · ~63h 26m drive
Philadelphia, PA2400 mi · ~69h 20m drive
Pittsburgh, PA2143 mi · ~61h 55m drive
Harrisburg, PA2308 mi · ~66h 41m drive
Newark, NJ2446 mi · ~70h 40m drive
Washington, DC2310 mi · ~66h 44m drive
Baltimore, MD2329 mi · ~67h 17m drive
Atlanta, GA1969 mi · ~56h 53m drive
Charlotte, NC2144 mi · ~61h 56m drive
Raleigh, NC2258 mi · ~65h 14m drive
Miami, FL2391 mi · ~69h 4m drive
Orlando, FL2247 mi · ~64h 55m drive
Tampa, FL2202 mi · ~63h 37m drive
Nashville, TN1805 mi · ~52h 9m drive
New Orleans, LA1723 mi · ~49h 47m drive
Richmond, VA2302 mi · ~66h 30m drive
Chicago, IL1747 mi · ~50h 28m drive
Detroit, MI1984 mi · ~57h 19m drive
Minneapolis, MN1509 mi · ~43h 36m drive
St. Louis, MO1605 mi · ~46h 22m drive
Kansas City, MO1370 mi · ~39h 35m drive
Indianapolis, IN1820 mi · ~52h 35m drive
Columbus, OH1987 mi · ~57h 24m drive
Cleveland, OH2052 mi · ~59h 17m drive
Milwaukee, WI1741 mi · ~50h 18m drive
Dallas, TX1286 mi · ~37h 9m drive
Houston, TX1431 mi · ~41h 20m drive
Austin, TX1286 mi · ~37h 9m drive
San Antonio, TX1267 mi · ~36h 36m drive
Los Angeles, CA102 mi · ~2h 57m drive
San Francisco, CA249 mi · ~7h 12m drive
San Diego, CA213 mi · ~6h 9m drive
Seattle, WA863 mi · ~24h 56m drive
Portland, OR727 mi · ~21h drive
Denver, CO829 mi · ~23h 57m drive
Phoenix, AZ422 mi · ~12h 11m drive
Salt Lake City, UT542 mi · ~15h 39m drive
Honolulu, HI2529 mi · ~73h 4m 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)105 miles
Rental car
158 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
210 min$126-210
San Jose (SJC)210 miles
Rental car
315 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
420 min$252-420

Deadline Calendar

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California State University-Bakersfield Application Checklist

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Decision Notifications

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California State University-Bakersfield — v2 Preview — TourStack