What California State University, Bakersfield costs
California State University, Bakersfield charges $8,090 a year in published tuition and fees for California residents, about $4,045 a semester, and $20,690 a year for students from other states, about $10,345 a semester. With housing, food, books and other costs, the total cost of attendance for in-state students is $19,522 a year. Students who received grants or scholarships paid $7,191 a year on average after that aid (the average net price). You may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships.
California State University, Bakersfield takes part in the Western Undergraduate Exchange, so students from other western states may pay no more than 150% of in-state tuition. See the full WUE list →
Compare out-of-state tuition at 100 public universities →
Getting into California State University, Bakersfield
For fall 2024, California State University, Bakersfield received 13,229 applications and admitted 12,416 students, and 1,294 enrolled as first-years.
What California State University, Bakersfield students study
The most common bachelor's degrees at California State University, Bakersfield (class of 2024, first majors only):
| Major | Degrees |
|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences / Liberal Studies | 325 |
| Psychology | 297 |
| Business Administration and Management | 274 |
| Early Childhood Education and Teaching | 160 |
| Criminal Justice / Safety Studies | 138 |
| Sociology | 135 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education / Fitness | 105 |
| Speech Communication and Rhetoric | 101 |
Source: IPEDS Completions, bachelor's degrees awarded in 2023–24.
Colleges like California State University, Bakersfield
Smaller public universities with the same campus setting (big city), closest in size and nearest in region:
- Portland State University, Portland, Oregon: 13,182 undergraduates
- University of Puerto Rico–Rio Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico: 8,572 undergraduates
- University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, Colorado: 8,697 undergraduates
- Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio: 8,969 undergraduates
- Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland: 9,019 undergraduates
See more colleges like California State University, Bakersfield in the College Filter →
Lists that include California State University, Bakersfield
- Colleges in California: 61 Compared
- Smaller Public Universities: 242 Compared
- Smaller Public Universities on the West Coast: 15 Compared
- Division I Colleges: 353 Compared
- Division I Colleges on the West Coast: 36 Compared
- Big-City Colleges: 219 Compared
- Big-City Colleges on the West Coast: 32 Compared
FAQ
What is California State University, Bakersfield's acceptance rate? 93.8% for fall 2024: 12,416 of 13,229 applicants were admitted.
How much is tuition at California State University, Bakersfield? $8,090 a year for in-state students and $20,690 for out-of-state students, in published tuition and fees before aid. You may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships.
Is California State University, Bakersfield part of WUE? Yes. It is on WICHE's September 2026 list of Western Undergraduate Exchange colleges. Requirements vary by college, so check with California State University, Bakersfield about how to apply and which programs qualify.
How many students go to California State University, Bakersfield? About 8,600 undergraduates (fall 2024).
What is the campus setting at California State University, Bakersfield? The National Center for Education Statistics classifies its location as a big city.
Sources
- College Navigator: California State University, Bakersfield (IPEDS, U.S. Department of Education)
- College Scorecard: California State University, Bakersfield
- Campus photo via Wikimedia Commons
