California State University-Bakersfield: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Bakersfield, California · Public · Open access · CDS 2024-2025
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California State University-Bakersfield is a public university in Bakersfield, California that admits about 94% 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. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 0.6 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
California State University-Bakersfield is a public institution located in Bakersfield, California. For the most recent reporting cycle, California State University-Bakersfield admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 94%. 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 California State University-Bakersfield?
California State University-Bakersfield has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission.
SAT and ACT scores California State University-Bakersfield typically admits
Many applicants to schools in this tier submit test scores, though the policy varies by year — check the latest test-optional status before deciding.
How much does California State University-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 — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 61% of students receive Pell Grants.
| Average net price (after aid) | $5,652 |
Application deadlines and early decision data for California State University-Bakersfield
Most popular majors at California State University-Bakersfield
The most popular undergraduate programs at California State University-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, California State University-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 | — |
| 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 California State University-Bakersfield safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), California State University-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
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 California State University-Bakersfield
Common questions parents ask about California State University-Bakersfield
What GPA do I need for California State University-Bakersfield?
California State University-Bakersfield has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission.
What SAT or ACT score does California State University-Bakersfield typically admit?
California State University-Bakersfield does not publish standardized test ranges in the most recent reporting cycle. Scores are optional here, and a strong one can still help when the rest of the application is borderline.
How much does California State University-Bakersfield actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at California State University-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 California State University-Bakersfield realistic for my child?
California State University-Bakersfield admits 94% 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 California State University-Bakersfield?
California State University-Bakersfield accepts about 94% of applicants. It admits the majority of qualified applicants.
Is California State University-Bakersfield a public or private school, and where is it located?
California State University-Bakersfield is a public institution located in Bakersfield, California.
What are the most popular majors at California State University-Bakersfield?
The largest undergraduate majors at California State University-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 California State University-Bakersfield safe? What is its campus crime rate?
California State University-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.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by California State University-Bakersfield, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers