Cost advantage
Affordable public option
In-state tuition in the lower range for public universities.
This school$8.1k
Public 4-yr avg$11k
Source: IPEDS 2024
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University public Verified data
California State University-Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA
California State University-Bakersfield at a glance
California State University-Bakersfield is a public university in Bakersfield, California with 10,419 students (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). It admitted 94% of applicants (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Its published in-state tuition is $8,090 (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25); students who received federal aid paid an average net price of $5,652 a year after grants (College Scorecard, a prior cohort). 50% of students finish within the federal tracking window (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021); 23% of students take federal loans, and borrowers leave with a median $16,600 (College Scorecard). By program, the highest graduate earnings four years after finishing are in Business Administration, master's ($120,351) and Nursing (RN), bachelor's ($102,298) (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates).
Tuition
$8,090
2024-25
Acceptance
94%
Fall 2024 applicants
Students
10,419
Fall 2024
Type
University
Setting
Urban
Cost & Financial Aid
In-State Tuition
$8,090
Out-of-State Tuition
$20,690
Avg On-Campus Living
$15,076
Avg Off-Campus Living
$17,674
Financial Aid & Outcomes
College Scorecard
What will it actually cost?
Sticker price: $23,166
Net price (after aid): $5,652
Most students pay the net price after financial aid, not the sticker price.
Net price by family income
$0 – $30k: $3,536
$30k – $48k: $3,817
$48k – $75k: $5,835
$75k – $110k: $9,480
$110k+: $16,069
Can federal loans cover it? (2026 limits)
At every income level reported here, the average net price is within the $25,500 a first-year dependent student and their parents can borrow from the federal government for loans made from 1 July 2026.
The ceiling is $5,500 in the student’s own Direct Loan plus up to $20,000 in Parent PLUS, which requires that the parent has no adverse credit history. Net prices are averages for a prior cohort of aid recipients, not a quote. Source: Federal Student Aid loan limits. Where this gap is largest.
After graduation
Median earnings (10yr): $59,009
Median debt at graduation: $16,600
Est. monthly loan payment: $176
Earnings-to-debt ratio
Strong · 3.6×Graduates earn about 3.6× their median debt every year.
Financial access
Students on Pell Grants: 61%
Pell Grants are federal aid for students from low-income families.
Students with federal loans: 23%
Share of students who borrowed to pay for school.
Some fields may not be reported by this institution. Verify final details with the school directly.
How does cost line up with outcomes across colleges? See our analysis of college cost vs. graduation and earnings, an association shaped by selectivity and sector, not proof a pricier college pays off.
FAFSA earnings check
: Not flaggedCalifornia State University-Bakersfield does not trigger the FAFSA's "lower earnings" notice. Its graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $62,335, above the $36,565 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 in California.
This is one figure for the whole institution, not for any program: earnings differ by credential and field. It covers graduates who completed in 2017-18 and 2018-19, received federal aid, and were working and not enrolled when earnings were measured in 2022 and 2023, in January 2026 dollars. The Department says the notice is informational only: it does not change aid eligibility. Source: U.S. Department of Education, FSA Data Center, March 2026 release. Which colleges are flagged, and what changed.
Student Outcomes
Graduation Rate
50%
Freshman Retention
79%
Source: IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25 (provisional release)
Final aid offers, scholarships, and net price vary per family. Always verify with the school's financial aid office.
Scholarships available
Decision support · Cost & value
Quick Decision Highlights
The strongest cost, aid, and value reasons to consider this school.
Lower net price
$5.7k below avg
Strong aid for lower incomes
Reported net price for the $0–30k band runs below average.
Need-based aid friendly
61% above avg
Affordability snapshot
In-state tuition
$8.1k
below avg
Out-of-state
$20.7k
below avg
Net price
$5.7k
below avg
Pell
61%
above avg
Median debt
$16.6k
below avg
Earnings (10y)
$59k
above avg
“Avg” comparisons reference national IPEDS / College Scorecard averages (~2022–23); figures are directional and vary by school and year.
Admissions
Acceptance rate
94%
SAT range
Institution does not report this
Institution does not report this
ACT range
Institution does not report this
Institution does not report this
Source: IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024 (provisional release)
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Location
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UniversitiesCommunity Colleges1 school
Institution does not report this
Bakersfield, CA 93311
Academics
Studying online: a substantial share study entirely online
In Fall 2023, 1,479 of California State University-Bakersfield's 9,787 students (15%) were enrolled entirely at a distance. A further 5,411 (55%) took at least one distance course alongside in-person study.
Distance-education figures count STUDENTS enrolled in Fall 2023, not programs on offer. "Exclusively at a distance" means a student took only distance courses that term. A college with few or no such students may still run online courses or an online degree, so a low figure is not evidence that online study is unavailable, and a high one is not a judgement of quality either way.
U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Fall Enrollment (distance education status), Fall 2023
Fields of study
California State University-Bakersfield reported conferring credentials in 45 different fields to the federal government. See which ones, and at what credential level.
Campus & Student Life
Area Safety Rating
Decision support
Similar schools
Worth a closer look if California State University-Bakersfield caught your interest.
California State University-East Bay
Hayward, CA
Tuition $7,583 97% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Similar acceptance.California State University-Monterey Bay
Seaside, CA
Tuition $7,779 97% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Similar acceptance.California State University-Stanislaus
Turlock, CA
Tuition $8,246 98% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Similar acceptance.California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
Arcata, CA
Tuition $8,250 98% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Similar acceptance.California State University-Channel Islands
Camarillo, CA
Tuition $7,159 95% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Similar acceptance.California State University-San Marcos
San Marcos, CA
Tuition $8,082 95% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Similar acceptance.
Graduate earnings by program
What California State University-Bakersfield graduates earn, by program
California State University-Bakersfield's bachelor's graduates in Business Administration earned a median $61,705 four years after graduating, 10% below the $68,257 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard).
29 programs at California State University-Bakersfield have federal earnings or debt figures, largest graduating classes first. Earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Debt: graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20. The national median is the same measure for every program in that field and credential in the U.S.
| Program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after | National median | Federal debt borrowed at this college (median) | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Bachelor's | $61,705 | $68,257, −10% | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and General Studies, Bachelor's | $57,529 | $53,072, +8% | — | — |
| Psychology, Bachelor's | $49,207 | $50,706, −3% | — | — |
| Criminal Justice, Bachelor's | $53,715 | $55,378, −3% | — | — |
| Sociology, Bachelor's | $52,618 | $52,657, about the same | — | — |
| Education, Master's | $92,010 | $65,824, +40% | — | — |
| Communication, Bachelor's | $50,989 | $56,359, −10% | — | — |
| Nursing (RN), Bachelor's | $102,298 | $88,910, +15% | — | — |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science, Bachelor's | $53,553 | $54,562, about the same | — | — |
| Business Administration, Master's | $120,351 | $103,485, +16% | — | — |
| Social Work, Master's | $86,527 | $65,123, +33% | — | — |
| Biology, Bachelor's | $58,885 | $57,214, +3% | — | — |
Compare what Business Administration pays at other colleges
What the job pays locally
- Nursing (RN) graduates train as registered nurses: median $140,270 in California.
- Electrical Engineering graduates train as electrical engineers: median $144,040 in California.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: everyone working in the job, every experience level, not only recent graduates.
Show 17 more programs
| Program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after | National median | Federal debt borrowed at this college (median) | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English, Bachelor's | $52,420 | $48,590, +8% | — | — |
| Computer Science, Bachelor's | $80,432 | $107,009, −25% | — | — |
| History, Bachelor's | $56,081 | $50,680, +11% | — | — |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other, Bachelor's | $49,834 | $65,681, −24% | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts, Bachelor's | $43,534 | $41,367, +5% | — | — |
| Public Administration, Master's | $85,123 | $81,408, +5% | — | — |
| Student Counseling, Master's | $82,248 | $60,111, +37% | — | — |
| Mathematics, Bachelor's | $64,470 | $69,562, −7% | — | — |
| Engineering Science, Bachelor's | $88,948 | $93,782, −5% | — | — |
| Electrical Engineering, Bachelor's | $97,998 | $100,647, −3% | — | — |
| Political Science, Bachelor's | $51,882 | $63,293, −18% | — | — |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychology, Master's | $68,014 | $65,184, +4% | — | — |
| Economics, Bachelor's | $78,029 | $82,686, −6% | — | — |
| Computer Engineering, Bachelor's | $93,797 | $109,015, −14% | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences, Bachelor's | $69,989 | $60,190, +16% | — | — |
| Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy, Bachelor's | $82,315 | $56,185, +47% | — | — |
| Human Development and Family Studies, Bachelor's | $50,850 | $48,568, +5% | — | — |
Median earnings of graduates who received federal student aid, worked, and were not enrolled in school; debt is the median federal loans borrowed at this college by graduates who borrowed (Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS; not Parent PLUS, private loans or interest). Programs with too few graduates are suppressed by the Department of Education. Monthly payment assumes a standard 10-year plan. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field-of-study data, 10 June 2026. Download every program (CSV). Same degree, different paycheck: what the national data show. Nursing graduates vs RN pay by state: the early-career benchmark.
Frequently asked questions
About California State University-Bakersfield
Built from CampusPin profile data. Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with the institution before applying. See our data methodology and data dictionary.
- Where is California State University-Bakersfield located?
- California State University-Bakersfield is located in Bakersfield, CA, in the United States.
- What type of institution is California State University-Bakersfield?
- California State University-Bakersfield is a public university based in CA. CampusPin classifies institutions as either four-year universities or two-year community colleges, with control labeled public or private.
- What is the acceptance rate at California State University-Bakersfield?
- The most recently reported acceptance rate at California State University-Bakersfield is approximately 94% (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Acceptance rate signals selectivity but does not predict any individual applicant's outcome and is not a measure of school quality. CampusPin reports the federally-published value; verify the current cycle with the institution.
- What is the tuition at California State University-Bakersfield?
- California State University-Bakersfield's published in-state tuition is approximately $8,090 per year (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25). This is the published price before financial aid; the net price most students actually pay is typically lower. Verify the current academic-year tuition with the institution before applying.
- How many students attend California State University-Bakersfield?
- California State University-Bakersfield reports total enrollment of approximately 10,419 students (undergraduate plus graduate) (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). Total enrollment is a useful sizing signal, see the institutional profile for additional breakdowns when available.
- How much does California State University-Bakersfield actually cost after financial aid?
- The average net price at California State University-Bakersfield is approximately $5,652 per year. Net price is the total cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships that never have to be repaid, so it is what students actually paid rather than the published sticker price. What families pay varies with income: students from families earning under $30,000 paid about $3,536 on average, and those from families earning $110,000 or more about $16,069. These are averages for students who received federal aid in a prior cohort, not a quote for any individual family. Run the institution's own Net Price Calculator for a figure specific to you.
- What is the graduation rate at California State University-Bakersfield?
- California State University-Bakersfield reports a graduation rate of approximately 50% (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021). This measures the share of a prior entering cohort who completed their degree within the federal tracking window. It reflects who enrolls as much as what the institution does, so it is not on its own a measure of teaching quality, and it is not comparable across institutions serving very different students.
- How much student debt do graduates of California State University-Bakersfield have?
- Students who borrowed at California State University-Bakersfield left with a median of approximately $16,600 in federal loans, and about 23% of students took federal loans at all. Both numbers matter: a median describes only the students who borrowed, so it reads very differently at a school where most students borrow than at one where few do. Federal loans only, so private and parent borrowing are not included.
- How much do graduates of California State University-Bakersfield earn?
- Median earnings approximately ten years after entry are $59,009 for students who received federal financial aid at California State University-Bakersfield. This reflects the mix of programs the institution offers and the students who enroll, not the effect of attending, and it covers aid recipients rather than all graduates.
- How should I verify final details about California State University-Bakersfield?
- CampusPin compiles institutional data from public datasets like IPEDS and the College Scorecard, plus institutional websites and editorial review. Before applying, paying a deposit, or making a final decision, confirm admissions requirements, current tuition, financial aid, deadlines, and program details directly with California State University-Bakersfield.
- How much do Business Administration graduates from California State University-Bakersfield earn?
- California State University-Bakersfield's bachelor's graduates in Business Administration earned a median $61,705 four years after graduating, 10% below the $68,257 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard).
- How much do Liberal Arts and General Studies graduates from California State University-Bakersfield earn?
- California State University-Bakersfield's bachelor's graduates in Liberal Arts and General Studies earned a median $57,529 four years after graduating, 8% above the $53,072 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard).
- Which programs at California State University-Bakersfield have the highest graduate earnings?
- Among the 21 programs at California State University-Bakersfield with a federal earnings figure from at least 30 graduates, the highest medians four years after graduating were Business Administration, master's ($120,351); Nursing (RN), bachelor's ($102,298); and Education, master's ($92,010) (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). That order is one federal measure, not a ranking of program quality: earnings reflect the field and where graduates go to work as well as the program.
- Does California State University-Bakersfield get a "lower earnings" warning on the FAFSA?
- No. In the Department of Education's March 2026 data, which the FAFSA uses now, California State University-Bakersfield's graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $62,335, above the $36,565 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 in California, so first-year students who list it do not see the lower-earnings notice. The figure describes the whole institution, not any one program.
Fields this college awarded credentials in
The 14 largest of 45 fields California State University-Bakersfield reported, by credentials conferred in 2024-25, using the federal classification of each field. The level is the highest credential actually awarded, which is not always the one a field is best known for.
| Field | Awarded | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 375 | Graduate (54 graduate · 321 bachelor's) |
| Psychology, General | 341 | Bachelor's |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 310 | Bachelor's |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 150 | Bachelor's |
| Education, General | 138 | Graduate |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 125 | Bachelor's |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 115 | Graduate (21 graduate · 94 bachelor's) |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 112 | Graduate (13 graduate · 99 bachelor's) |
| Sociology | 111 | Bachelor's |
| Communication and Media Studies | 98 | Bachelor's |
| Biology, General | 93 | Graduate (1 graduate · 92 bachelor's) |
| Social Work | 67 | Graduate |
| Computer Science | 59 | Bachelor's |
| English Language and Literature, General | 56 | Graduate (11 graduate · 45 bachelor's) |
Fields are as classified in the federal IPEDS completions collection, which records credentials already conferred. A field listed here was awarded in the reporting year; it does not confirm the program is currently admitting students, and a field CampusPin has no guide for is still shown under its official federal title. Confirm current offerings with the institution.
Explore more
Compare colleges side by side. Other colleges in Bakersfield, CA. All colleges in California. California college costs by family income. Student debt at California colleges. Computer science in California. Business in California. Nursing in California. Psychology in California. Engineering in California.
Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with California State University-Bakersfield before applying.
Data sources & methodology
Reporting period: 2024. Last verified: June 10, 2026.
Facts on this profile of California State University-Bakersfield are compiled from federal datasets and the institution's own published information.
Sources used across this page
Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.
IPEDS / NCES College Navigator
Federal enrollment, admissions, tuition, retention, and program data. Released annually with a 1–2 year lag.
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
Net price by income band, post-graduation earnings, and federal aid context.
Clery Act campus security reports
Annual campus security and fire-safety disclosures required of U.S. institutions.
Institutional websites
Each school's official admissions, registrar, and financial-aid pages are the authoritative source for current details.
Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.
Suggested citation
CampusPin. (2024). California State University-Bakersfield, college profile. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/schools/california-state-university-bakersfield
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