CSU Bakersfield: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially California State University-Bakersfield · Bakersfield, California · Public · Open access · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-blind
- 14,532
- Applicants
- 12,230
- Admitted84%
- 1,366
- Enrolled
- 11%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Open access84% admittedRanked #25 in Regional Universities West; Business Programs #301 (tie), Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #55 (tie), Computer Science #235 (tie), Nursing #135 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by California State University-Bakersfield (see the source), read on 2026-09-24.
Is CSU Bakersfield a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places CSU Bakersfield against it in about a minute. No account needed.
CSU Bakersfield is a public university in Bakersfield, California that admits about 84% of applicants, making it a open access school. The average family pays about $5,652 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Business Administration, Management and Operations, Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities and Psychology, General, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 48% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 0.6 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
CSU Bakersfield is a public institution located in Bakersfield, California. For the most recent reporting cycle, CSU Bakersfield admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 84%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT around 1000. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $5,652 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for CSU Bakersfield?
64% of enrolled students at CSU Bakersfield had a high school GPA of 3.25 or above, and the average was 3.44, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
Compare CSU Bakersfield with the other schools on your list
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What does CSU Bakersfield weight in admissions?
CSU Bakersfield reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
2- Rigor of secondary school record
- Academic GPA
Considered
3- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
- State residency
Not Considered
13- Class rank
- Standardized test scores
- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Interview
- Character/personal qualities
- First generation status
- Alumni/ae relation
- Geographical residence
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores CSU Bakersfield typically admits
Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | 875 |
| 50th percentile | 1000 |
| 75th percentile | 1135 |
| % submitting SAT | 6% |
| 25th percentile | 19 |
| 50th percentile | 22 |
| 75th percentile | 23.75 |
| % submitting ACT | 1% |
- • Test-blind: CSU Bakersfield does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if submitted.
- • CSU system does not use SAT/ACT in admission; scores may be used for math/English placement after admission.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on CSU Bakersfield's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
How much does CSU Bakersfield actually cost?
Published tuition is $8,090 for in-state students and $20,690 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $15,076 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $5,652 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 61% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $6,838 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $18,142 |
| Room and board | $17,432 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $5,652 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 67% |
| Average need-based grant | $13,595 |
| Average merit award, no financial need16 first-year students received one | $1,651 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 30% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $16,934 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $70 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for CSU Bakersfield
| Regular deadline | 4/1 |
| Notification date | 2/1 |
| Reply deadline | 5/1 |
Will my child graduate from CSU Bakersfield?
These predict outcomes at CSU Bakersfield better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at CSU Bakersfield
The most popular undergraduate programs at CSU Bakersfield, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities and Psychology, General. Across all programs, CSU Bakersfield confers roughly 1,614 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Business Administration, Management and Operations program report a median income of about $57,559 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 351 | $57,559 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 312 | $58,622 |
| Psychology, General | 294 | $53,226 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 170 | $61,462 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 151 | n/a |
| Sociology | 129 | $56,392 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 106 | $52,896 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 101 | $111,384 |
Is CSU Bakersfield safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), CSU Bakersfield disclosed 5 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 0.6 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 2 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at CSU Bakersfield?
About 4% of undergraduates at CSU Bakersfield live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 1% of men join a fraternity and 1% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in California parents ask about
- California State University-Monterey Bay97% acceptance
- California State University-San Marcos95% acceptance
- California State University-Channel Islands95% acceptance
- Art Center College of Design75% acceptance
- California Institute of the Arts32% acceptance
- Whittier College81% acceptance
- Stanford University4% acceptance
- University of California-Berkeley11% acceptance
Next steps for CSU Bakersfield
Common questions parents ask about CSU Bakersfield
What GPA do I need for CSU Bakersfield?
64% of enrolled students at CSU Bakersfield had a high school GPA of 3.25 or above, and the average was 3.44, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does CSU Bakersfield typically admit?
CSU Bakersfield is test-blind: SAT and ACT scores are not considered in admission decisions, even if you submit them. There is no score range because scores are not read.
How much does CSU Bakersfield actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at CSU Bakersfield after grants and scholarships is $5,652 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $8,090 and $20,690 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is CSU Bakersfield realistic for my child?
CSU Bakersfield admits 84% of applicants, so the transcript and course rigour carry the decision, with no published score band to place against. Then check the $5,652 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at CSU Bakersfield?
CSU Bakersfield accepts about 84% of applicants out of roughly 14,532 who apply each year. It admits the majority of qualified applicants.
Is CSU Bakersfield test-optional?
CSU Bakersfield is test-blind for Fall 2027 applicants: it does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if you submit them.
What is the graduation rate at CSU Bakersfield?
About 48% of students at CSU Bakersfield graduate within six years, and 28% finish in four years. 81% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does CSU Bakersfield look for in applicants?
CSU Bakersfield rates course rigor and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is CSU Bakersfield a public or private school, and where is it located?
CSU Bakersfield is a public institution located in Bakersfield, California.
What are the most popular majors at CSU Bakersfield?
The largest undergraduate majors at CSU Bakersfield by annual graduates are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities and Psychology, General. The school awards about 1,614 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is CSU Bakersfield safe? What is its campus crime rate?
CSU Bakersfield reported 5 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 0.6 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at CSU Bakersfield?
At CSU Bakersfield, 4% of undergraduates live on campus, 1% of men are in fraternities, 1% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by California State University-Bakersfield, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers