California State University-Bakersfield
Bakersfield, California · Public · 4-year · City
Official websiteAt a glance
- Average net price
- $5,652What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
- Acceptance rate
- 94%
- Graduation rate
- 50%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
- Undergraduates
- 8,577
- In-state tuition
- $8,090Published price before aid.
- Out-of-state tuition
- $20,690
- SAT midpoint
- Not reported
- Median earnings, 10 yrs
- $59,009Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.
How it compares to similar colleges
Each rating covers one measure against public 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.
Affordability
$5,6525/5
Better than 96% of public 4-year colleges (565 compared).
Completion
50%3/5
Better than 41% of public 4-year colleges (566 compared).
Earnings
$59,0094/5
Better than 64% of public 4-year colleges (590 compared).
Debt at graduation
$16,6005/5
Better than 85% of public 4-year colleges (588 compared).
What these ratings are based on
- Affordability
- Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
- Completion
- Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
- Earnings
- Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
- Debt at graduation
- Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
- Why there is no rating for selectivity
- A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.
What it actually costs
Published cost
$19,522
The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.
Average net price
$5,652
What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.
Outcomes
| Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time | 50% |
|---|---|
| Retention rateFirst-year students who return | 79% |
| Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed | $16,600 |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled | $59,009 |
What graduates of each major earn
Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Degrees awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Not reported | 362 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | Not reported | 317 |
| Psychology, General | Not reported | 277 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | Not reported | 168 |
| Sociology | Not reported | 134 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | Not reported | 131 |
| Communication and Media Studies | Not reported | 102 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Not reported | 87 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | Not reported | 80 |
| Computer Science | Not reported | 65 |
| English Language and Literature, General | Not reported | 62 |
| History | Not reported | 57 |
| Biology, General | Not reported | 55 |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | Not reported | 41 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | Not reported | 35 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | Not reported | 25 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | Not reported | 23 |
| Political Science and Government | Not reported | 22 |
| Mathematics | Not reported | 21 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | Not reported | 21 |
| Engineering Science | Not reported | 18 |
| Economics | Not reported | 18 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | Not reported | 14 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | Not reported | 11 |
| Computer Engineering | Not reported | 11 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | Not reported | 8 |
| Philosophy | Not reported | 8 |
| Religion/Religious Studies | Not reported | 8 |
| Anthropology | Not reported | 7 |
| Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | Not reported | 6 |
| Music | Not reported | 4 |
| Public Administration | Not reported | 4 |
| Chemistry | Not reported | 3 |
| Natural Sciences | Not reported | 3 |
| Engineering, General | Not reported | 2 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | Not reported | 2 |
| Physics | Not reported | 2 |
| Public Health | Not reported | 1 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | Not reported | Not reported |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | Not reported | Not reported |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | Not reported | Not reported |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other | Not reported | Not reported |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | Not reported | Not reported |
All 43 bachelor’s programs this college reported.
Similar colleges
California State University-Stanislaus
Turlock, CA
Also a public four-year college in CA, with a similar undergraduate enrollment.
Compare these twoUniversity of California-Merced
Merced, CA
Also a public four-year college in CA, with a similar undergraduate enrollment.
Compare these twoCalifornia State University-East Bay
Hayward, CA
Also a public four-year college in CA, with a similar undergraduate enrollment.
Compare these twoCalifornia State University-Monterey Bay
Seaside, CA
Also a public four-year college in CA, with a similar undergraduate enrollment.
Compare these two