CSU Bakersfield vs. SCI-Arc

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Bakersfield is larger than SCI-Arc based on total student enrollment (10,419 students vs. 418 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Bakersfield is located in Bakersfield, CA (Large City setting); Southern California Institute of Architecture is in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting).
• California State University Bakersfield is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Southern California Institute of Architecture is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Bakersfield 20:1; Southern California Institute of Architecture 9:1.

CSU Bakersfield vs. SCI-Arc Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU Bakersfield or SCI-Arc? 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 SCI-Arc ($6,489 vs. $28,985).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern California Institute of Architecture are 9.8% lower than at California State University Bakersfield ($13,600 vs. $15,076).
• Southern California Institute of Architecture is 594.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSU Bakersfield (about $48,072 more per year; $56,162.00 vs. $8,090.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 171.4% higher at SCI-Arc than at California State University Bakersfield (about $35,472 more per year; $56,162.00 vs. $20,690.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Bakersfield than at Southern California Institute of Architecture (91% vs. 26%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southern California Institute of Architecture students is 228.8% larger than aid received by California State University Bakersfield students ($42,627 vs. $12,966).

CSU Bakersfield vs. SCI-Arc Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU Bakersfield or SCI-Arc? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between SCI-Arc and CSU Bakersfield.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresSouthern California Institute of Architecture 1020/1230.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU Bakersfield - Test-free; SCI-Arc - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSU Bakersfield Dec 15, 2026; SCI-Arc Jan 15, 2027.
• CSU Bakersfield has a higher acceptance rate (93.9%) than SCI-Arc (76.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.4% at CSU Bakersfield vs. 7% at SCI-Arc.

CSU Bakersfield vs. SCI-Arc Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU Bakersfield and SCI-Arc? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Southern California Institute of Architecture's six-year graduation rate (58%) is higher than California State University Bakersfield's (41%).
• Graduates from California State University Bakersfield earn a median of about $1,900 more per year than SCI-Arc graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,300 vs. $46,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Bakersfield graduates have a $29,582 lower median loan debt than SCI-Arc graduates ($13,168 vs. $42,750).
• Among borrowers, CSU Bakersfield graduates have an estimated $306 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SCI-Arc graduates ($136 vs. $442).
• More SCI-Arc graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU Bakersfield students, three years after graduation. (62% 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.