California State University-Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA · WestQuad's selectivityOpen

Known forEconomic diversityFirst-gen friendly

Website Admissions Apply Visit Financial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

9 in 10 applicants admitted

California State University-Bakersfield admits about 9 in 10 applicants (94%). That puts it in the "Open" tier, more selective than 14% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

94%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityOpen

Applied

13,229

Admitted

12,416

Yield

10%

of admits enroll

Applications +73% since fall 2014 · admit rate 71% → 94%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 8,577 undergrads, where 61% receive Pell Grants, a high share compared to other colleges.

8.6K

undergrads · larger than 87% of colleges

Diversity index

0.49

Pell Grant

61%

above the median

First generation

58%

above the median

Large cityNCAA D-I · Big West ConferenceStudy abroadUndergrad research

Less diverse · index 0.68 → 0.49 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Psychology, General (15% of graduates). 20 students for every faculty member, more than at 90% of colleges. 52% of faculty are full-time. Spends $8,900 a year on instruction per student.

20 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 90% of colleges

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $15,511 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $8.8K less than the national median. The 91% who received grants paid $6,489 on average; the other 9% paid the full sticker price of $26,976 in-state / $38,856 out-of-state.

43%

$15.5K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $8.8K below the national median

Full price, in-state: $26,976 a year; tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid: Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes

Aid generosity

Generous

grants cover 43% of full price

Federal loans

23%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits

Cost falling · −11% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $59,009 ten years after enrolling, more than at 65% of colleges; 64% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.1 years of that salary.

64%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$59K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$16.6K

≈ $176/month for 10 years

Retention

79%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 41% → 50% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price fell 3% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 11%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 73% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 71% to 94%.

Cost
Falling
−11% after inflation
Applications
Growing
+73%
Selectivity
Less selective
admit rate 71% → 94%
Diversity
Less diverse
index 0.68 → 0.49

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

California State University-Dominguez Hills

93% admit · 12.5K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso West

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California State University-San Bernardino

94% admit · 15K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso West

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Texas A&M University-San Antonio

94% admit · SAT 955 · 6.6K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso public

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California State University-Fresno

95% admit · 21.6K undergrads

Similar selectivityAlso WestAlso public

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

1
IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
2
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12
3
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
4
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
12
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
13
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
14
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
15
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
16
IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
17
IPEDS Outcome Measures survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12
18
California State University-Bakersfield (2026)
California State University-Bakersfield · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 110486 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything