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California State University-Bakersfield
California State University-Bakersfield admits nearly everyone — 93.8% of applicants. A feature, not a flaw: the page below asks whether California State University-Bakersfield is worth attending, not whether you'll get in.
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California State University-Bakersfield sits in Bakersfield proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it.
Its highest-earning path is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, where graduates median $102,298 four years out. Faculty pay averages $139,356 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. Most of its 8,577 undergraduates commute — campus empties by evening — yet 78.8% of first-years return, which says something about what daytime here is worth.
California State University-Bakersfield won't look at test scores — here the GPA calculator is the tool that matters. Bring your saved semester numbers and see what they average.
Admissions
California State University-Bakersfield does not use test scores in admissions at all: the 93.8% who got into California State University-Bakersfield did it on GPA, coursework and application alone. No score range exists to publish.
In the Fall 2023 cycle, California State University-Bakersfield received 13,950 applications and admitted 12,303 (88.2%), with 1,204 enrolling.
How California State University-Bakersfield compares
| California State University-Bakersfield | California median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 93.8% | 75.7% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $8,090 | $23,000 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $59,009 | $64,778 | $53,781 |
Ten years out, California State University-Bakersfield's median earnings are $59,009 — below the California benchmark of $64,778. Weigh that against the $8,090 price above; the by-major table shows majors drive much of this gap.
Cost, size & completion
As a public university, California State University-Bakersfield prices by residency: $8,090 in-state versus $20,690 out-of-state — a $12,600 gap that makes state lines part of the decision.
California State University-Bakersfield enrolls 8,577 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs California State University-Bakersfield's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
49.8% graduate within six years. Roughly 50% don't — ask a California State University-Bakersfield tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at California State University-Bakersfield
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $102,298 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $97,998 |
| Computer Engineering | $93,797 |
| Engineering Science | $88,948 |
| Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | $82,315 |
| Computer Science | $80,432 |
| Economics | $78,029 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $69,989 |
| Mathematics | $64,470 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $61,705 |
| Biology, General | $58,885 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $57,529 |
| History | $56,081 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $53,715 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $53,553 |
| Sociology | $52,618 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $52,420 |
| Political Science and Government | $51,882 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $50,989 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $50,850 |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | $49,834 |
| Psychology, General | $49,207 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $43,534 |
Median earnings for these 23 California State University-Bakersfield programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $59,009 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 20 additional California State University-Bakersfield programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for California State University-Bakersfield?
California State University-Bakersfield doesn't look at test scores; its 93.8% admission rate turned on transcripts, coursework rigor and the application itself.
What is California State University-Bakersfield's acceptance rate?
88.2% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 12,303 admitted from 13,950 applicants.
How much does California State University-Bakersfield cost?
In-state tuition is $8,090; out-of-state students pay $20,690. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do California State University-Bakersfield graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $59,009 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in California
- California State University-Stanislaus — 98.1% admitted
- California State University-San Bernardino — 93.7% admitted
- California State University-Chico — 92.7% admitted
- California State University-Dominguez Hills — 93.3% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.