CSU Bakersfield vs. UCO-Central

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Bakersfield in Bakersfield, CA with University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, OK on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Central Oklahoma is larger than CSU Bakersfield based on total student enrollment (12,554 students vs. 10,419 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Bakersfield is located in Bakersfield, CA (Large City setting); University of Central Oklahoma is in Edmond, OK (Large Suburban setting).
• California State University Bakersfield is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Central Oklahoma is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Bakersfield 20:1; University of Central Oklahoma 18:1.

CSU Bakersfield vs. UCO-Central Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU Bakersfield or UCO-Central? 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 UCO-Central ($6,489 vs. $18,660).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Central Oklahoma are 35.7% lower than at California State University Bakersfield ($9,700 vs. $15,076).
• University of Central Oklahoma is 9% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSU Bakersfield (about $728 more per year; $8,818.00 vs. $8,090.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5% higher at CSU Bakersfield than at University of Central Oklahoma (about $986 more per year; $20,690.00 vs. $19,704.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Bakersfield than at University of Central Oklahoma (91% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Bakersfield students is 81.3% larger than aid received by University of Central Oklahoma students ($12,966 vs. $7,152).

CSU Bakersfield vs. UCO-Central Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU Bakersfield or UCO-Central? 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 UCO-Central and CSU Bakersfield.

• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Central Oklahoma 18/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU Bakersfield - Test-free; UCO-Central - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSU Bakersfield Dec 15, 2026.
• CSU Bakersfield has a higher acceptance rate (93.9%) than UCO-Central (78.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.4% at CSU Bakersfield vs. 42.9% at UCO-Central.

CSU Bakersfield vs. UCO-Central Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU Bakersfield and UCO-Central? 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 Bakersfield's six-year graduation rate (41%) is higher than University of Central Oklahoma's (36%).
• Graduates from California State University Bakersfield earn a median of about $3,700 more per year than UCO-Central graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,300 vs. $44,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Bakersfield graduates have a $7,225 lower median loan debt than UCO-Central graduates ($13,168 vs. $20,393).
• Among borrowers, CSU Bakersfield graduates have an estimated $74 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCO-Central graduates ($136 vs. $210).
• More UCO-Central graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU Bakersfield students, three years after graduation. (54% 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.