CSU Bakersfield vs. CSU

Should I go to California State University Bakersfield or California State University Chico? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CSU Bakersfield or CSU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

Sacramento State San Francisco State Humboldt State University San Jose State UC Merced Cal State Fullerton Sonoma State University California State University-Fresno Cal State East Bay UC Davis Cal Poly San Diego State
California State University Bakersfield vs. California State University Chico comparison
California State University Bakersfield California State University Chico College 3 College 4
California State University Bakersfield California State University Chico
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 CSU Bakersfield CSU
Location Bakersfield, CA Chico, CA
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 9,613 14,183
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #659
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website csub.edu csuchico.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 CSU Bakersfield CSU
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $5,742
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $17,622
Room & Board $14,230 $15,212
Avg Net Price $7,521 $15,517
Avg Grant Aid $10,750 $9,162
% Receiving Grant Aid 88% 62%

Admission

 CSU Bakersfield CSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 13,834 21,417
Admitted 11,973 20,347
Acceptance Rate 86.5% 95%
Enrolled % 9.2% 9.9%
Avg High School GPA - 3.37
Typical High School Grades - B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24
SAT Range 970/1170
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Dec 15, 2024 Dec 15, 2024

Academics

 CSU Bakersfield CSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 20:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (14%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (9%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Health Professions (8%)

Outcomes

 CSU Bakersfield CSU
Graduation Rate 41% 59%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,300 $52,400
Making Student Loan Payments 54% 70%
Median Student Loan Debt $13,168 $17,000
Median Loan Payment $136 $175

Diversity

 CSU Bakersfield CSU
% Men 33% 45%
% Women 67% 55%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 20% 46%
% Black 7% 2%
% Hispanic 54% 29%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 4% 3%
% Unknown Race 4% 7%

Students

 CSU Bakersfield CSU
% In-State 96% 97%
% Out-of-State 1% 2%

Campus

 CSU Bakersfield CSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • California State University Chico is larger than than CSU Bakersfield based on total student enrollment (14,183 students vs. 9,613 students)

CSU Bakersfield vs. CSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU Bakersfield or CSU?

  • California State University Bakersfield and CSU cost the same to attend based on in-state tuition ($5,742.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is the same at CSU Bakersfield as California State University Chico ($17,622.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Bakersfield than CSU ($7,521 vs. $15,517)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Bakersfield are 6.9% lower than costs at California State University Chico ($14,230 vs. $15,212)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at California State University Bakersfield than California State University Chico (88% vs. 62%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Bakersfield students is 17.3% larger than aid received California State University Chico ($10,750 vs. $9,162)

CSU Bakersfield vs. CSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU Bakersfield or CSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CSU or CSU Bakersfield .

  • CSU has a higher acceptance rate (95%) than CSU Bakersfield (86.5%)

CSU Bakersfield vs. CSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CSU Bakersfield or CSU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between CSU and CSU Bakersfield.

  • The graduation rate at CSU is higher than California State University Bakersfield (59% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from California State University Chico earn on average $4,100 more per year than CSU Bakersfield graduates after ten years. ($52,400 vs. $48,300)
  • California State University Bakersfield students graduate with a $3,832 lower median federal student loan debt than CSU graduates. ($13,168 vs. $17,000)
  • CSU Bakersfield graduates are paying $39 less per month on federal student loans than CSU graduates. ($136 vs. $175)
  • More CSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU Bakersfield students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 54%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/