CSU Bakersfield vs. USD

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Bakersfield is larger than USD based on total student enrollment (10,419 students vs. 9,714 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Bakersfield is located in Bakersfield, CA (Large City setting); University of San Diego is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• California State University Bakersfield is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of San Diego is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Bakersfield 20:1; University of San Diego 13:1.

CSU Bakersfield vs. USD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU Bakersfield or USD? 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 USD ($6,489 vs. $37,918).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Bakersfield are 24.3% lower than at University of San Diego ($15,076 vs. $19,918).
• University of San Diego is 635.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSU Bakersfield (about $51,396 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $8,090.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 187.5% higher at USD than at California State University Bakersfield (about $38,796 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $20,690.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Bakersfield than at University of San Diego (91% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Diego students is 215.9% larger than aid received by California State University Bakersfield students ($40,965 vs. $12,966).

CSU Bakersfield vs. USD Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU Bakersfield - Test-free; USD - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSU Bakersfield Dec 15, 2026; USD Dec 15, 2026.
• CSU Bakersfield has a higher acceptance rate (93.9%) than USD (52.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.4% at CSU Bakersfield vs. 12.4% at USD.

CSU Bakersfield vs. USD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• University of San Diego's six-year graduation rate (75%) is higher than California State University Bakersfield's (41%).
• Graduates from University of San Diego earn a median of about $21,900 more per year than CSU Bakersfield graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,200 vs. $48,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Bakersfield graduates have a $9,736 lower median loan debt than USD graduates ($13,168 vs. $22,904).
• Among borrowers, CSU Bakersfield graduates have an estimated $100 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USD graduates ($136 vs. $236).
• More USD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU Bakersfield students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.