CSU Bakersfield vs. Pitzer

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Bakersfield is larger than Pitzer based on total student enrollment (10,419 students vs. 1,242 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Bakersfield is located in Bakersfield, CA (Large City setting); Pitzer College is in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• California State University Bakersfield is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Pitzer College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Bakersfield 20:1; Pitzer College 10:1.

CSU Bakersfield vs. Pitzer Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU Bakersfield or Pitzer? 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 Pitzer ($6,489 vs. $34,979).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Bakersfield are 31.9% lower than at Pitzer College ($15,076 vs. $22,150).
• Pitzer College is 705.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSU Bakersfield (about $57,102 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $8,090.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 215.1% higher at Pitzer than at California State University Bakersfield (about $44,502 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $20,690.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Bakersfield than at Pitzer College (91% vs. 39%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pitzer College students is 297.1% larger than aid received by California State University Bakersfield students ($51,487 vs. $12,966).

CSU Bakersfield vs. Pitzer Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU Bakersfield or Pitzer? 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 Pitzer and CSU Bakersfield.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU Bakersfield - Test-free; Pitzer - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSU Bakersfield Dec 15, 2026; Pitzer Jan 1, 2027.
• CSU Bakersfield has a higher acceptance rate (93.9%) than Pitzer (25.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.4% at CSU Bakersfield vs. 35.8% at Pitzer.

CSU Bakersfield vs. Pitzer Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU Bakersfield and Pitzer? 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).

• Pitzer College's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than California State University Bakersfield's (41%).
• Graduates from Pitzer College earn a median of about $1,300 more per year than CSU Bakersfield graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,600 vs. $48,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Bakersfield graduates have a $2,727 lower median loan debt than Pitzer graduates ($13,168 vs. $15,895).
• Among borrowers, CSU Bakersfield graduates have an estimated $28 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pitzer graduates ($136 vs. $164).
• More Pitzer graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU Bakersfield students, three years after graduation. (81% 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.