CSU Bakersfield vs. California State University-Northridge

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Northridge is larger than CSU Bakersfield based on total student enrollment (38,313 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 Northridge is in Northridge, CA (Large City setting).
• California State University Bakersfield is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Northridge is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Bakersfield 20:1; California State University Northridge 25:1.

CSU Bakersfield vs. California State University-Northridge Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU Bakersfield or California State University-Northridge? 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 Bakersfield than California State University-Northridge ($6,489 vs. $7,536).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Northridge are 8.4% lower than at California State University Bakersfield ($13,804 vs. $15,076).
• California State University Bakersfield is 8.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than California State University-Northridge (about $632 more per year; $8,090.00 vs. $7,458.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.2% higher at CSU Bakersfield than at California State University Northridge (about $632 more per year; $20,690.00 vs. $20,058.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Bakersfield than at California State University Northridge (91% vs. 83%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Bakersfield students is 1.1% larger than aid received by California State University Northridge students ($12,966 vs. $12,825).

CSU Bakersfield vs. California State University-Northridge Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU Bakersfield or California State University-Northridge? 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 California State University-Northridge and CSU Bakersfield.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCalifornia State University Northridge 900/1110.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCalifornia State University Northridge 16/22.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU Bakersfield - Test-free; California State University-Northridge - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSU Bakersfield Dec 15, 2026; California State University-Northridge Nov 30, 2026.
• CSU Bakersfield has a higher acceptance rate (93.9%) than California State University-Northridge (93.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.4% at CSU Bakersfield vs. 18% at California State University-Northridge.

CSU Bakersfield vs. California State University-Northridge Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU Bakersfield and California State University-Northridge? 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 Northridge's six-year graduation rate (46%) is higher than California State University Bakersfield's (41%).
• Graduates from California State University Bakersfield earn a median of about $800 more per year than California State University-Northridge graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,300 vs. $47,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Bakersfield graduates have a $1,028 lower median loan debt than California State University-Northridge graduates ($13,168 vs. $14,196).
• Among borrowers, CSU Bakersfield graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California State University-Northridge graduates ($136 vs. $146).
• More California State University-Northridge graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU Bakersfield students, three years after graduation. (59% 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.