California State University-Bakersfield
- Graduation Rate
- 50% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $59,009 B+
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $5,652 A
- 67% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 94% D
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 77.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $77.0 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $77.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,718,350.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Earnings 45% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $77.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why California State University-Bakersfield Matters
California State University-Bakersfield is a public university in Bakersfield, CA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 8,577
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Psychology, Business & Marketing, Humanities, Social Sciences
Why students choose California State University-Bakersfield
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 94% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $5,652 a year after grants and scholarships — 67% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $59,009 ten years after enrolling — 45% above the typical college, against $16,600 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.29 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
California State University-Bakersfield has an impressive acceptance rate of 94%. This means that most applicants find a place at this university, making it an accessible option for many students. With nearly 8,600 enrolled, the campus fosters a diverse and vibrant community.
The Chetty/Opportunity Insights data indicates that while specific mobility metrics are not available, the economic connectedness of the region plays a crucial role in shaping student outcomes. Graduates tend to earn around $59,009 within ten years of completing their degrees. This suggests that students can expect a solid return on their educational investment, especially in high-demand fields like business and psychology.
The cost of attendance is relatively low, with a net price of $5,652 and a median debt of $16,600. This financial accessibility makes it easier for students to graduate without overwhelming debt. The university attracts those who thrive in supportive environments focused on humanities, social sciences, and education, catering to a diverse range of interests and career goals.
Rankings
- #14 Best Colleges for Low-Income Students
- #16 Colleges With the Highest ROI
- #19 Most Affordable Colleges in California
- #19 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in California
- #20 Best Education Colleges in California
- #27 Most Affordable Colleges for Criminal Justice
- #27 Most Affordable Colleges for Communications
- #29 Most Affordable Colleges for Social Work
Can I Get In?
How selective California State University-Bakersfield is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into California State University-Bakersfield? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Bakersfield, California, California State University-Bakersfield admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 94%. The graduation rate is roughly 50%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 94%
- Retention Rate
- 79%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 52%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $11,613
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 19:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.49
- First-Gen Students
- 58%
- Applicants
- 13,834
- Admitted
- 11,973
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2025-26
The acceptance rate tells you how hard California State University-Bakersfield is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 11% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 11%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 6%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 100%
- of enrolled freshmen
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend California State University-Bakersfield? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at California State University-Bakersfield is $20,690, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $5,652. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,536 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $16,600 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $8,090
- Out-of-State
- $20,690
- Avg Net Price
- $5,652
- Median Debt
- $16,600
- Pell Grant Rate
- 61%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 23%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $3,536
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $3,817
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $5,835
- Family Income $110K+
- $16,069
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at California State University-Bakersfield — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is California State University-Bakersfield Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of California State University-Bakersfield earn a median of $59,009, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $44,282
- 8 Years
- $51,171
- 10 Years
- $59,009
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.28x
- Earning > $25K
- 66%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (207)
- 15%
- 100% (207)
- 15%
- 100% (207)
- 15%
- 100% (207)
- 15%
How California Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is California State University-Bakersfield Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, California State University-Bakersfield delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $5,652/year ($22,608 total). Graduates earn $59,009 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,740,958 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,718,350 (77.0× your investment). The median debt is $16,600, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 50% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $22,608
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,740,958
- Net Return
- $1,718,350
- ROI Multiple
- 77.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $5,652
- Median Debt
- $16,600
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 50%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $773,704
- Investment Income
- $-7,495,260
Top Programs
The fields California State University-Bakersfield awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Psychology 15% $34,067 early-career
- Business & Marketing 14% $43,402 early-career
- Humanities 14% $33,980 early-career
- Social Sciences 7% $59,033 early-career
- Criminal Justice 7% $36,746 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 6% $33,120 early-career
- Education 6% $80,791 early-career
- Health Professions 5% $95,674 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for California State University-Bakersfield's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- B+Physician Assistant$130,020 · 28% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into California State University-Bakersfield? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Bakersfield, California, California State University-Bakersfield admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 94%. The graduation rate is roughly 50%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend California State University-Bakersfield? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at California State University-Bakersfield is $20,690, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $5,652. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,536 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $16,600 in federal student loans.
Is California State University-Bakersfield Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of California State University-Bakersfield earn a median of $59,009, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is California State University-Bakersfield? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at California State University-Bakersfield. Its economic connectedness score is 1.29, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does California State University-Bakersfield offer Early Decision?
No. California State University-Bakersfield does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2025-26 Common Data Set).
Is California State University-Bakersfield really test-optional?
California State University-Bakersfield reports test-optional admission, but most enrolled students still submit scores: about 1% of first-year students sent an SAT or ACT (2025-26 Common Data Set). Submitting strong scores is the norm here.
What percentage of admitted students enroll at California State University-Bakersfield?
About 11% of admitted students choose to enroll at California State University-Bakersfield — its yield rate (2025-26 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to California State University-Bakersfield.
- California State University-StanislausTurlock, CA · Close peer56% grad $63,188 earn 98% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Ferris State UniversityBig Rapids, MI · Close peer47% grad $54,735 earn 91% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- College of Staten Island CUNYStaten Island, NY · Close peer33% grad $53,501 earn 92% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Texas Woman's UniversityDenton, TX · Close peer47% grad $56,544 earn 96% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- California State University-San BernardinoSan Bernardino, CA · Close peer55% grad $59,977 earn 94% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- California State University-Dominguez HillsCarson, CA · Close peer45% grad $57,162 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is California State University-Bakersfield? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at California State University-Bakersfield. Its economic connectedness score is 1.29, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note