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California Baptist University

#1197 in US ranking Riverside, CA
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Programs:
4 years or more

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Cost

Cost / year
$54,370
Tuition & fees
$42,788
Avg. aid
$21,853
Receiving aid
99%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
85%

Outcomes

Graduation rate
62%
Median salary
$50,613
1 yr after graduation

What is the accreditation of California Baptist University?

California Baptist University is institutionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission, commonly called WSCUC. Institutional accreditation evaluates the university as a whole; it is distinct from approval or accreditation of a particular degree program.

That distinction matters most for students entering regulated professions. A nursing, engineering, teaching, counseling, or other professionally oriented program may have separate accreditation or state-approval requirements. Applicants should verify the status of their specific program with the relevant accreditor or licensing board, especially if they intend to qualify for a license outside California.

Institutional accreditation is an important condition for participation in federal student aid programs and can affect how another college evaluates transfer credit. It does not, by itself, guarantee that credits will transfer, that a professional license will be awarded, or that every degree has specialized accreditation.

What are the admission requirements at California Baptist University?

First-year applicants to California Baptist University generally apply with a secondary-school academic record and proof of high school completion or an accepted equivalent. The university is not an open-admission institution: its reported first-year admissions figures show about 6,782 offers of admission from 7,990 applications, an acceptance rate of approximately 85%.

High school GPA and the secondary-school record are required elements of the admissions review. Class rank and recommendations may be considered but are not generally required. SAT and ACT scores are neither required nor recommended in the reported admissions data; only a small share of enrolling first-year students submitted scores. Applicants should follow the current application instructions if they believe a score is relevant to an individual circumstance rather than assuming it is needed.

Requirements can differ for transfer, graduate, international, and professionally regulated programs. An applicant whose schooling was not in English should review the applicable English-proficiency rules; the reported undergraduate admissions policy considers TOEFL results but does not list them as universally required. Students should also check the current application calendar for their intended entry term and major, since a university-wide admission decision may not complete admission to a selective program.

What are the application fees and waivers at California Baptist University?

California Baptist University applicants should check the fee shown in the current application for their applicant category and submission method before paying. An application charge, if assessed, is separate from an enrollment deposit, orientation charge, tuition, and other costs that may arise after admission.

Students who cannot afford an application charge should ask admissions about waiver eligibility and the request procedure before submitting payment. Undergraduate, graduate, online, and special-program applications may use different processes; a waiver or fee arrangement for one route should not be assumed to apply to another.

What types of ROTC programs are available at California Baptist University?

California Baptist University reports an Army ROTC unit on campus and an Air Force ROTC opportunity through a cooperating host institution. Those are different arrangements: an Air Force participant may need to meet another institution's enrollment and travel requirements in addition to CBU's degree requirements.

ROTC students ordinarily take military-science or aerospace-studies coursework alongside their major and complete additional training. Scholarships, eligibility standards, medical qualifications, and any resulting service commitment depend on the branch and the student's contract; simply exploring ROTC does not establish scholarship eligibility. Before building a class schedule around participation, students should confirm the current host arrangement, cross-enrollment process, transportation needs, and branch-specific obligations with the relevant ROTC staff.

What are the requirements for transfer students at California Baptist University?

California Baptist University accepts transfer applications and generally considers credit earned at other accredited colleges. It reports transfer entry for fall, winter, and spring terms, but admission to CBU and acceptance of particular courses toward a degree are separate decisions.

A transfer applicant should be prepared to provide official transcripts from every college attended and to follow any additional instructions tied to the amount of college coursework completed. GPA standards, deadlines, and supplemental requirements may be stricter for a particular major than for general university admission. The university also reports accepting Advanced Placement credit, CLEP examinations, and some credit evaluated under American Council on Education recommendations; each has its own limits and documentation rules.

The useful question is not just "Will this course transfer?" but "Will it satisfy a requirement in my intended major?" Students coming from a California community college should ask for a degree-specific transfer-credit evaluation and check any applicable articulation agreement before enrolling in remaining prerequisite courses. They should also confirm the minimum number of credits that must be completed at CBU to earn its degree.

What types of study abroad programs are available at California Baptist University?

California Baptist University students may pursue international experiences, but an overseas service project and a credit-bearing study-abroad program are not necessarily the same thing. CBU is associated with international service and mission opportunities; students seeking academic credit need to confirm the approval process for the particular destination and program.

For a semester abroad, short-term course, or program operated with another provider, the essential checks are whether the courses meet major or general-education requirements, how grades and credits will appear on the transcript, and whether participation affects a planned graduation date. Financial aid treatment can also differ by program and term. Students in tightly sequenced majors should discuss proposed courses with their academic adviser before paying a deposit or making travel arrangements.

California Baptist University Admissions Factors

Acceptance rate
85%

Acceptance rate vs. median

This school
85%
California
75%
US
78%

24% of admitted students enrolled (1,612 of 6,782)

ACT scores of enrolled students

ACT in range 12-17
ACT in range 18-23
ACT in range 24-29
ACT in range 30-36

California Baptist University Admissions

Applicants
Total: 7,990
Admission
Total: 6,782
Enrolled
Total: 1,612
Women
Men

California Baptist University First-Year Students

Where first-year students come from

In-state: 1,434
Out-of-state: 141
International: 37

Freshmen vs. transfer students

Freshmen: 1,612
Transfer: 966

California Baptist University Admission Requirements

Percent of students submitting ACT scores

1%

Percent of students submitting SAT scores

9%

High school completions

General Educational Development (GED) required

Computer required

No

Computer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution

Yes

Secondary school GPA

Required

Secondary school rank

Considered but not required

Secondary school record

Required

Completion of college-preparatory program

Considered but not required

Recommendations

Considered but not required

Formal demonstration of competencies

Neither required nor recommended

Admission test scores

Neither required nor recommended

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language

Considered but not required

Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)

Neither required nor recommended

Open admission policy

No

Dual credit

No

Credit for life experiences

Yes

Advanced placement (AP) credits

Yes

Special learning opportunities

Disabilities services

Yes

ROTC-Army

ROTC branch unit on campus

ROTC-Air Force

ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institution

Study abroad

Yes

Student can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization

Yes

Preparation at another institution required

No

Approved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher

Yes

California Baptist University Transfer Acceptance Rate

Generally accepts credits

Yes

Accept ACE recommendation for credit

Yes

Possible transfer

Fall, Winter, Spring

Data last updated on November 2, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.

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