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Bakersfield may be famous for its country music heritage, but it's also home to one of Cal State's premier campuses. Cal State Bakersfield is home to over 9,000 undergraduate students and around 1,200 graduate students. These students come to Bakersfield to focus on college majors in fields including STEM subjects, social sciences and education, arts and humanities, and business and public administration.


Overview of California State University-Bakersfield (CSUB)


Though they may be intently focused on their degree programs, Bakersfield students can still make time for recreation, socialization, and organizations that make them the well-rounded individuals they are. Students love the recreation center which is packed with facilities such as 60 cardiovascular machines, three courts, a 34' tall climbing wall, tennis courts, and other outdoor facilities. Students can also join intramural leagues, take off on an outdoor adventure, or have fun with e-Sports.

The student recreation center also helps students integrate other parts of themselves to create a more well-rounded, well-adjusted individual. Students can take part in short seminars on mental health, thoughtful nutrition, fitness and wellness, aromatherapy, and even free health screenings so that they can catch any problems before they run out of control. Of course, Cal State Bakersfield also provides students with on-campus counseling and health services.

General Information


School Type Public
Campus Setting City: Large
Campus Housing Yes
Student Faculty Ratio 24:1
Graduation Rate 43%
Year Founded 1965

Student Enrollment


Total Students11,531

Undergraduate
9,981
Graduate
1,550

Undergraduate Student

Male 3,793
3,793
Female 6,188
6,188

Graduate Student

Male 589
589
Female 961
961

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CSU Bakersfield Acceptance Rate and Admissions


APPLICATIONS12,935

Male 5,472
Female 7,463

ACCEPTANCE10,477

Male 4,213
Female 6,194

Acceptance Rate81%

Male 77%
Female 83%

Enrollment 1,572

Male 586
Female 986
Admissions
Application Fee $70
High School GPA Required
High School Rank N/A
High School Transcripts Required
College Prep Courses Required
Recommendations N/A
SAT/ACT Recommended
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) N/A
Application Deadline November 30
Common Application Accepted No

CSUB Tuition Cost & Financial Aid


When it comes to the cost of education at Cal State Bakersfield, there are few rivals. California has historically offered its residents a tremendous educational value. While costs have risen over the years, the Golden State offers tremendous competition to any other state. For Cal State Bakersfield, the gross cost of tuition for a California resident is under $7,500 while non-residents pay over $19,000 for the same courses. Both residents and non-residents pay $1,200 for books, supplies, and other expenses.

Since college students need housing, food, and money for incidentals, that expense must be factored, as well. Cal State Bakersfield students pay between $16,000 for on-campus living and $18,000 for off-campus apartments. This brings the total gross cost of a year at the school to a range of $25,000 - $27,000 for Californians and $37,000 - $39,000 for non-Californians.

However, the picture gets even rosier after financial aid kicks in. The overall average net price for tuition, room, and board at Cal State Bakersfield is a mere $7,600. The number is even smaller for the lower income students, who see an average net cost of $5,000 per year. Even households earning over $110,000 pay only $17,000 for a year of educational costs at Cal State Bakersfield.

Average net price 2018-2019
Net Price $5,771
Average Total Aid $10,599
Students Receiving Financial Aid 90%
Room & Board $12,900

Sticker Price


  • Tuition In-State - $7,419
  • Tuition Out-of-State - $19,299
  • Books and Supplies - $2,058
  • Room & Board - $12,900
  • Other - $2,654

Academics


Students have many reasons to choose California State University at Bakersfield but academics reign supreme. Indeed, this Cal State campus does not disappoint those who seek the finest in academics paired with a fun and stimulating campus experience.

Educational researchers use several metrics to determine a school's academic worthiness, and retention rate is at the top of the list. Retention rate is the ratio of student who return to campus for a second year. A high rate of retention indicates that students and their families are pleased with the school's faculty, curriculum, campus resources, and even their fellow students. Cal Bakersfield does report an impressive retention rate of 83% for its first-time, full-time students and 31% for its part-timers.

Though Cal State Bakersfield retains first-year students at a high rate, the institution's graduation rate is down a bit. Currently, CSB graduates 46% of students, with 3% reported transferring out. Those transfers likely move on to another school in the Cal State system where they can find the precise degree they seek. This pushes the overall graduation rate closer to 50%, which is still a laudable number. Given the incredible value Cal State Bakersfield offers, students should certainly check out this gem of the Central Valley.

Student Population Total


Student Population 11,531

Undergraduate
9,981
Graduate
1,550
Evening Classes : No
Online Learning : Yes

Most Popular Programs & Majors

(# of Diplomas Awarded by Subject)


All Business Majors 371 Total Graduates / 17%
Business Administration and Management, General 371 Graduates
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanitie 263 Total Graduates / 12%
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 263 Graduates
All Psychology Majors 230 Total Graduates / 11%
Psychology, General 230 Graduates
All Social Sciences Majors 164 Total Graduates / 8%
Sociology, General 110 Graduates
Political Science and Government, General 27 Graduates
Economics, General 22 Graduates
Anthropology, General 4 Graduates
All Biological & Biomedical Majors 157 Total Graduates / 7%
Biology/Biological Sciences, General 76 Graduates
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other 68 Graduates
Biochemistry 13 Graduates
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services 157 Total Graduates / 7%
Criminal Justice/Safety Studies 157 Graduates
All Other Diplomas 38%

Outcome & Salary


The 9,700 students at California State University – Bakersfield are all eager to learn how much money they might make upon graduating from this fine institution. While higher education never comes with any guaranteed return on educational investment, researchers can look at how well previous graduates have fared in the job market. Thus, researchers seek out median salary information from alumni.

Leading the earnings pack from Cal State Bakersfield are the registered nursing students who report a terrific median salary of $80,000. Of the top five earning majors, the engineering science students bring up the rear with a median reported salary of over $48,000. In the middle of the pack are the computer science alumni who report earning just over $50,000.

Graduates Salary
College Grads Early Career Salary $50,000
College Grads Average Salary $68,022
College Grads Mid Career Salary $91,900
Return on Investment (ROI)
10 Year Salary Earnings Potential $680,220
20 Year Salary Earnings Potential $1,599,220
Cost of Education (Net Price) 4 Year $23,084
10 Year Projected ROI $657,136
20 Year Projected ROI $1,576,136
No College Education Salary Comparison
National Average Salary $38,792
10 Year Projected Income $387,920
20 Year Projected Income $775,840

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