Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks California State University-Bakersfield #89 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. California State University-Bakersfield sits in the 90.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earn about $13,422 more than similar students at comparable institutions. Azimuth ranks California State University-Bakersfield #95 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Students at California State University-Bakersfield earn more than similar students at comparable institutions, a meaningful advantage for a broad-access public university serving one of California's most economically diverse regions. The university's composite ranking reflects how access, mobility, and earnings beyond expectations work together — delivering durable financial outcomes for students who might otherwise have limited pathways to four-year degrees.
Azimuth ranks California State University-Bakersfield #89 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Bakersfield, CA, California State University-Bakersfield enrolls roughly 8,577 undergraduates. Retention stands at 78.8% and the six-year graduation rate is 49.8%, figures that reflect the realities of a regional university serving a high proportion of working students and first-generation families. What anchors California State University-Bakersfield in the composite is mobility. The university sits in the 93.6 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, driven by a student body where 60.7% receive Pell Grants and 58.2% are first-generation college students — one of the broadest access profiles among California's public universities. Access sits in the 91.5 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, and affordability registers in the 96.6 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting a public-tuition structure that keeps net prices relatively contained for low- and middle-income families. Return on investment is the lower-ranked pillar in the composite. Azimuth ranks California State University-Bakersfield #650 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 56.2 percentile. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $59,109, and graduates earn about $13,422 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing California State University-Bakersfield in the 90.7 percentile for among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings figures reflect CA's Central Valley labor market and a student population whose post-graduation outcomes represent meaningful returns relative to the no-degree-equivalent baseline of $34,672, even where they fall below selective-peer averages. Business is the dominant program family, and specific programs deliver materially stronger outcomes — Azimuth ranks Nursing #94 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions, at 1.15 times the national benchmark for that field.
California State University-Bakersfield prices its degrees accessibly across the income spectrum. Low-income families pay approximately $3,536 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $5,835, and higher-income families pay correspondingly more at roughly $16,069. Azimuth ranks California State University-Bakersfield #49 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university's public-tuition structure and broad financial-aid reach keep net prices well below the published cost of attendance of $19,522 for most families. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Need-based aid plays a central role in how California State University-Bakersfield prices for lower- and middle-income students. The university participates in federal Pell Grant programs, state Cal Grant funding, and institutional aid, and the combination meaningfully closes the gap between sticker price and what most families actually pay. Families weighing the net price illusion — the difference between published costs and actual out-of-pocket expenses — will generally find that CSUB's net prices reflect a more accessible reality than the headline figure suggests. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $16,600, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $9,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $59,109, median federal debt of $16,600 projects to a monthly payment of about $188 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
California State University-Bakersfield is a strong fit for students from the Central Valley and broader CA who want a regionally grounded public university with a clear path to stable post-graduation earnings — particularly those drawn to Business, health, and applied professional fields. The earnings case is straightforward: graduates earn in the 39.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and California State University-Bakersfield sits in the 90.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $13,422 more than similar students at comparable institutions, a meaningful signal for a regional public institution serving a predominantly working-class region. The access profile is broad. 60.7% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 58.2% are first-generation college students, making California State University-Bakersfield one of the more accessible institutions in the Azimuth coverage set for low-income and first-generation applicants. For those students, 30.6% complete their degrees — a completion rate that reflects genuine institutional support rather than selective attrition. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program portfolio is concentrated in Business and applied fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, while those seeking deep STEM research or highly specialized professional programs may find the range narrower than at larger flagships. Median student debt at graduation is $16,600, which is manageable relative to the earnings trajectory — but students should weigh that figure against their specific program and career path using the Financial GPS tool.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the California State University-Bakersfield hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
California State University-Bakersfield prices its degrees accessibly across the income spectrum. Low-income families pay approximately $3,536 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $5,835, and higher-income families pay correspondingly more at roughly $16,069.
Azimuth ranks California State University-Bakersfield #49 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university's public-tuition structure and broad financial-aid reach keep net prices well below the published cost of attendance of $19,522 for most families.
Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Need-based aid plays a central role in how California State University-Bakersfield prices for lower- and middle-income students.
The university participates in federal Pell Grant programs, state Cal Grant funding, and institutional aid, and the combination meaningfully closes the gap between sticker price and what most families actually pay. Families weighing the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) — the difference between published costs and actual out-of-pocket expenses — will generally find that CSUB's net prices reflect a more accessible reality than the headline figure suggests.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $16,600, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $9,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $59,109, median federal debt of $16,600 projects to a monthly payment of about $188 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of California State University-Bakersfield earn median earnings of $59,109 four years after enrollment, placing California State University-Bakersfield in the 39.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure sits below the $56,249 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $13,422 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 90.7 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent lifetime returns relative to CA's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $34,672 — the state median earnings of working adults with only a high school credential.
While institution-level earnings track CA's regional labor market, specific programs deliver materially stronger outcomes. Azimuth ranks Nursing #94 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with graduates earning median earnings of $102,298 — 1.15x the national benchmark for the field.
Business is the dominant program family, representing 15% of degree output, followed by Social Sciences at 8% and Education at 6%. Among the largest programs, Business Administration program graduates 351 students with median earnings of $61,705, while The General Studies program graduates 312 students earning $57,529.
On the higher-earning end, Psychology, General graduates earn median earnings of $49,207 and Azimuth ranks the program #174 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Criminal Justice graduates earn median earnings of $53,715 with Azimuth ranking it #87 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
California State University-Chico Similar quality tier in West (#4204 ranked) | CA | 93% | $64,172 | #4204 | Compare |
University Of Michigan-Dearborn Similar quality tier (#4199 ranked) | MI | 56% | $59,649 | #4199 | Compare |
College Of Staten Island Cuny Similar quality tier (#4208 ranked) | NY | 92% | $53,501 | #4208 | Compare |
California State University-Stanislaus Similar quality tier in West (#4197 ranked) | CA | 98% | $63,188 | #4197 | Compare |
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte Similar quality tier (#4210 ranked) | NC | 80% | $57,289 | #4210 | Compare |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
101 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
30 graduates
Computer Engineering
15 graduates
Engineering Science
42 graduates
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
9 graduates
California State University-Bakersfield's program mix is anchored in Business, which accounts for 15% of graduates, followed by Social Sciences at 8% and Education at 6%. The largest programs by cohort size are Business Administration (351 graduates), General Studies (312 graduates), Psychology, General (294 graduates), and Criminal Justice (170 graduates).
Business Administration combines strong enrollment with solid earnings, making it the program that contributes most to the institution's overall financial outcomes. The strongest earnings come from health and business fields.
Nursing graduates earn median earnings of $102,298 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #94 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Business Administration follows with median earnings of $61,705, and Azimuth ranks it #155 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Biology, General graduates earn $58,885, while General Studies graduates earn $57,529 — both reflecting applied fields with direct workforce entry. For context on [how Azimuth evaluates programs](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), rankings weight both earnings and cohort scale.
Several of California State University-Bakersfield's strongest programs — particularly nursing and business administration — are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the labor market directly and four-year earnings reflect actual workforce outcomes. Psychology, General and Business Administration serve as broader foundational fields where some graduates continue to graduate study, meaning four-year earnings may undercount long-term trajectory for a portion of completers.
The [supply-demand map for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides additional context for how the institution's concentration in business and health fields aligns with regional and national labor-market demand in California's Central Valley. ```
