California State University-Bakersfield
Bakersfield, California · Public · 93.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 75/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
CSU Bakersfield scores 75 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale, anchored by an extraordinary 98 earnings premium sub-score - graduates earn 106.2% more than the total cost of attendance. The institution's cost structure is modest: $5,652 average net price and $16,600 median debt. Average six-year earnings are $39,100, rising to a median $59,009 at ten years. The 6.8-year payback period is solid for a public regional university. The main weaknesses: 49.8% completion rate (sub-score 38) and 62.6% repayment rate (sub-score 22) - the latter indicating that 37.4% of borrowers are not reducing their principal at three years, a concerning signal of post-graduation financial stress. An important Scorecard limitation: the program-level data reports only four-year earnings, not year-one earnings. Registered Nursing (87 graduates, $102,298 at year four) and Electrical Engineering (21 graduates, $97,998 at year four) lead the earnings rankings; Computer Science (65 graduates, $80,432) and Business Administration (362 graduates, $61,705) are the highest-volume programs. With 60.7% Pell grant recipients, CSUB serves a heavily low-income regional population in Kern County. For students who complete, the value proposition is compelling. For the roughly half who do not graduate, the debt accumulates without the credential.
California State University-Bakersfield scores in the top 19% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
California State University-Bakersfield
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,090/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $20,690/yr |
| Average net price | $5,652/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $22,608 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $59,009 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $39,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $16,600 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $176 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 49.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 8,577 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $8,090/year ($20,690/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $5,652/year, or roughly $22,608 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $3,536/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $16,069/year. If money is tight, that matters: this school gives low-income students enough aid to land well below the sticker price.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $16,600, which works out to about $176 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($39,100) and comes to 0.42, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $3,536 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $3,817 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $5,835 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $9,480 |
| $110,001+ | $16,069 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $3,536 per year at CSU Bakersfield. The 30001-48000 bracket pays $3,817, nearly identical. Even with $16,600 median debt, graduates at $39,100 average earnings have a serviceable debt-to-earnings profile. The key risk is the 62.6% repayment rate, which signals that a meaningful share of borrowers are in distress post-graduation.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $5,835 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $9,480. Both represent excellent value for a public university in a high cost-of-living state. Middle-income families face four-year costs of $23,000-38,000. Against $39,100 average six-year earnings and a 6.8-year payback, the investment is rational. Students in engineering and nursing who complete have payback periods well under four years at those salary levels.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $16,069 per year - a four-year total of roughly $64,000. At this net price, CSUB's ROI is still reasonable for students who complete, but higher-income families have more options and likely higher opportunity costs. The repayment rate concern applies across income groups; families at this bracket should evaluate whether CSUB's support structures will ensure their student completes the degree.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at California State University-Bakersfield with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $61,705 | - |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $57,529 | - |
| Psychology | $49,207 | - |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $53,715 | - |
| Sociology | $52,618 | - |
| Communication and Media Studies | $50,989 | - |
| Registered Nursing | $102,298 | - |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $53,553 | - |
| Computer Science | $80,432 | - |
| English Language and Literature | $52,420 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is CSUB's highest-earning program: 87 graduates and $102,298 at year four. Year-one earnings and debt-to-earnings data are not reported by Scorecard for this program. The four-year figure reflects the California nursing wage premium. Against a net price of $5,652 per year, nursing graduates at CSUB achieve an earnings-to-cost ratio that few private nursing programs can approach. Program capacity is likely the limiting factor, not cost.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is CSUB's largest program by graduate volume at 362 students, with $61,705 at year four. Year-one earnings data is not reported. At a $5,652 annual net price, even $61,705 at year four produces strong ROI for completers. Business graduates from CSUB enter the Bakersfield and broader Central Valley business community in finance, operations, and management roles. The volume of 362 graduates annually makes this program the institutional anchor of the labor market pipeline.
Computer Science
Computer Science (65 graduates) earns $80,432 at year four. Year-one data is not reported. Against a net price of $5,652 per year, $80k at year four represents exceptional value.
Psychology
Psychology is CSUB's second-largest program by volume at 277 graduates, with $49,207 at year four. Year-one earnings and debt data are not reported. At a $5,652 net price, even $49,207 at year four yields a reasonable payback period for completers. However, the repayment rate of 62.6% suggests many borrowers across the institution are struggling, and psychology graduates with graduate school aspirations should plan carefully for additional debt. The low net price is the primary mitigating factor here.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 58.3% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 62.6% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 56.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 62.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How California State University-Bakersfield’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 93.8% |
| Enrollment | 8,577 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 60.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,613 |
At 93.9%, CSUB is effectively open-access. The Scorecard does not report SAT or ACT ranges. The practical admissions filter is academic readiness and, more importantly, the capacity to persist through a degree program while managing work and family obligations. The 49.8% completion rate reflects these real-world pressures on a predominantly first-generation, low-income student population. Students should review CSUB's support services, transfer pathways, and part-time degree options before enrolling.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| California State University-Bakersfield (this school) | 75 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 96 | $16,665 | $90,768 |
| California State University-Stanislaus | 82 | $6,067 | $63,188 |
| North Dakota State University-Main Campus | 80 | $15,543 | $62,203 |
| University of Wyoming | 77 | $13,599 | $56,880 |
| The University of Texas at Tyler | 72 | $13,323 | $57,053 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See California State University-Bakersfield side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
CSU Bakersfield admits 93.9% of applicants and does not report SAT or ACT score ranges - effectively open-access. Enrollment is 8,577 undergraduates in Bakersfield, California's Central Valley oil and agriculture hub. With 60.7% of students receiving Pell grants, CSUB serves a large share of low-income students. First-generation students and working adults dominate the enrollment. Students with clear career goals in nursing, engineering, or business who can commit to completion have a genuine path to strong earnings at very low cost. Students without structured support or a specific career plan face the same structural completion challenges visible in the 49.8% graduation rate.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, California State University-Bakersfield pays off. You'd pay about $5,652 a year after aid ($22,608 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $59,009 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6.8 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings. What to keep an eye on: its 49.8% graduation rate, a three-year loan repayment rate of 62.6% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $16,600 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $39,100 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
California State University-Bakersfield: Common Questions
Is California State University-Bakersfield worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students California State University-Bakersfield pays off. It scores 75/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $5,652 a year after aid ($22,608 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $59,009 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6.8 years to earn back.
How much does California State University-Bakersfield cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $5,652 a year, or roughly $22,608 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do California State University-Bakersfield graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $59,009 ten years after enrolling, roughly $17,209 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off California State University-Bakersfield?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 6.8 years for California State University-Bakersfield. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do California State University-Bakersfield graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $16,600, against average earnings of $39,100 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at California State University-Bakersfield?
The six-year graduation rate is 49.8%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.