CSU Bakersfield vs. Parkside

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Bakersfield is larger than Parkside based on total student enrollment (10,419 students vs. 3,925 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Bakersfield is located in Bakersfield, CA (Large City setting); University of Wisconsin Parkside is in Kenosha, WI (Midsize Suburban setting).
• California State University Bakersfield is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin Parkside is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Bakersfield 20:1; University of Wisconsin Parkside 20:1.

CSU Bakersfield vs. Parkside Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU Bakersfield or Parkside? 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 Parkside ($6,489 vs. $10,234).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Parkside are 42% lower than at California State University Bakersfield ($8,750 vs. $15,076).
• University of Wisconsin Parkside is 2.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSU Bakersfield (about $180 more per year; $8,270.00 vs. $8,090.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18.7% higher at CSU Bakersfield than at University of Wisconsin Parkside (about $3,261 more per year; $20,690.00 vs. $17,429.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Bakersfield than at University of Wisconsin Parkside (91% vs. 56%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Bakersfield students is 70.7% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin Parkside students ($12,966 vs. $7,598).

CSU Bakersfield vs. Parkside Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Wisconsin Parkside 17/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU Bakersfield - Test-free; Parkside - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSU Bakersfield Dec 15, 2026.
• CSU Bakersfield has a higher acceptance rate (93.9%) than Parkside (75.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.4% at CSU Bakersfield vs. 26.1% at Parkside.

CSU Bakersfield vs. Parkside Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU Bakersfield and Parkside? 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 Wisconsin Parkside's (28%).
• Graduates from California State University Bakersfield earn a median of about $7,300 more per year than Parkside graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,300 vs. $41,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Bakersfield graduates have a $9,797 lower median loan debt than Parkside graduates ($13,168 vs. $22,965).
• Among borrowers, CSU Bakersfield graduates have an estimated $101 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Parkside graduates ($136 vs. $237).
• More CSU Bakersfield graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Parkside 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.