CSU Bakersfield vs. Cal State LA

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Bakersfield in Bakersfield, CA with California State University Los Angeles in Los Angeles, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Los Angeles is larger than CSU Bakersfield based on total student enrollment (23,163 students vs. 10,419 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

CSU Bakersfield vs. Cal State LA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU Bakersfield or Cal State LA? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Los Angeles than CSU Bakersfield ($4,460 vs. $6,489).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Bakersfield are 23.5% lower than at California State University Los Angeles ($15,076 vs. $19,696).
• California State University Bakersfield is 13% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State LA (about $930 more per year; $8,090.00 vs. $7,160.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.7% higher at CSU Bakersfield than at California State University Los Angeles (about $930 more per year; $20,690.00 vs. $19,760.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Los Angeles than at California State University Bakersfield (94% vs. 91%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Los Angeles students is 6.6% larger than aid received by California State University Bakersfield students ($13,824 vs. $12,966).

CSU Bakersfield vs. Cal State LA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU Bakersfield or Cal State LA? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Cal State LA and CSU Bakersfield.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCalifornia State University Los Angeles 870/1060.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCalifornia State University Los Angeles 15/20.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU Bakersfield - Test-free; Cal State LA - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSU Bakersfield Dec 15, 2026; Cal State LA Jan 19, 2027.
• CSU Bakersfield has a higher acceptance rate (93.9%) than Cal State LA (91.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.4% at CSU Bakersfield vs. 9.4% at Cal State LA.

CSU Bakersfield vs. Cal State LA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU Bakersfield and Cal State LA? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• California State University Bakersfield's six-year graduation rate (41%) is higher than California State University Los Angeles's (36%).
• Graduates from California State University Bakersfield earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than Cal State LA graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,300 vs. $46,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Los Angeles graduates have a $248 lower median loan debt than CSU Bakersfield graduates ($12,920 vs. $13,168).
• Among borrowers, Cal State LA graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSU Bakersfield graduates ($133 vs. $136).
• More Cal State LA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU Bakersfield students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 54%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.