California Baptist University vs. CSU Bakersfield

Comparable Facts

Compare California Baptist University in Riverside, CA with California State University Bakersfield in Bakersfield, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

California Baptist University is larger than CSU Bakersfield based on total student enrollment (11,902 students vs. 10,419 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California Baptist University is located in Riverside, CA (Large City setting); California State University Bakersfield is in Bakersfield, CA (Large City setting).
• California Baptist University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Bakersfield is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Baptist University 21:1; California State University Bakersfield 20:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Baptist University are 19.5% lower than at California State University Bakersfield ($12,140 vs. $15,076).
• Out-of-state tuition is 99.3% higher at California Baptist University than at California State University Bakersfield (about $20,538 more per year; $41,228 vs. $20,690).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California Baptist University than at California State University Bakersfield (99% vs. 91%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California Baptist University students is 106.3% larger than aid received by California State University Bakersfield students ($26,743 vs. $12,966).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both California Baptist University and CSU Bakersfield.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSU Bakersfield Dec 15, 2026.
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.8% at California Baptist University vs. 10.4% at CSU Bakersfield.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Bakersfield graduates have a $13,832 lower median loan debt than California Baptist University graduates ($13,168 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, CSU Bakersfield graduates have an estimated $143 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California Baptist University graduates ($136 vs. $279).
• More California Baptist University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU Bakersfield students, three years after graduation (58% vs. 54%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.