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California State University-Bakersfield

#1117 in US ranking Bakersfield, CA
Type:
Public
Programs:
4 years or more

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Cost

Cost / year
$18,458
Tuition & fees
$8,512
Avg. aid
$12,092
Receiving aid
93%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
94%

Outcomes

Graduation rate
50%
Median salary
$39,259
1 yr after graduation

What does California State University-Bakersfield offer in terms of athletics?

CSUB's Roadrunners compete in NCAA Division I athletics, primarily in the Big West Conference. Varsity competition is distinct from the recreational sports available to the wider student body.

Representative varsity sports include basketball, baseball, soccer, softball, volleyball, swimming and diving, and wrestling. Conference affiliation can vary by sport, so a prospective athlete should check the current roster and schedule for the team of interest rather than assume every sport competes in the same league.

Students who do not play varsity sports can look to campus recreation for fitness facilities and available intramural or other recreational activities. These options have different participation rules from intercollegiate athletics and should not be confused with athletic recruiting or scholarship opportunities.

What student groups and Associations are available at California State University-Bakersfield?

CSUB students can participate in recognized organizations spanning academic interests, cultural communities, service, arts and recreation. Associated Students, Inc. provides a formal student-government avenue for representation and campus involvement.

Student media and performing groups offer other ways to participate: the campus has a student newspaper, theater activity and choral groups. Club rosters and activity levels change, so the current recognized-organization directory is the best way to find a group that is meeting, learn its membership rules or explore how to start one.

An academic club can be useful for meeting classmates in a major, while a cultural or service organization may connect students across programs. Neither requires assuming that every student spends time on campus outside class; meeting schedules are particularly important for commuters and students who work.

Who studies at California State University-Bakersfield?

CSUB enrolled approximately 10,419 students in the reported institutional figures. Its student body is predominantly from California: 97% of students in the geographic-origin measure were state residents.

The reported entering groups included 1,294 first-time degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduates and 1,234 transfer students. That substantial transfer intake is relevant to applicants arriving from community colleges, though it does not indicate how many credits any particular student will receive.

Hispanic or Latino students form the largest reported racial or ethnic group. Enrollment spans traditional college ages and older adulthood; the age counts include students in their late twenties, thirties and beyond. These figures describe who enrolled, not any individual student's experience or the views of a demographic group.

How does student life look like at California State University-Bakersfield?

Everyday life at CSUB is shaped in part by commuting. Reported figures indicate that about 4% of students live on campus and 96% commute, so many students balance classes with travel, jobs or family responsibilities.

Orientation and student-support services can help newcomers learn how to use advising, tutoring, wellness resources and campus facilities. The student union, library, recreation facilities, performances and scheduled activities provide places to spend time between classes. For a commuter, the usefulness of those opportunities often depends on whether events and services are offered when they are already on campus.

The reported student-to-faculty ratio is 21 to 1. That institution-wide ratio is not a class-size promise; introductory lectures, laboratories and upper-division seminars may differ considerably. Applicants who value particular forms of academic support should ask their intended department how advising and required-course scheduling work.

What libraries are available to students at California State University-Bakersfield?

The Walter W. Stiern Library is CSUB's main academic library. Students can use library collections and research tools for coursework, including books, journals and electronic resources available through the university.

Library services include research assistance and access to materials beyond items physically held on campus through borrowing and resource-sharing arrangements. Digital access is especially useful for commuters and students working off campus, although some licensed resources require university authentication.

Students planning substantial research should check the library's current hours, study-space rules and help options for their term. Specialized collections and archival materials can also support projects focused on the university and its region.

California State University-Bakersfield Student Life for 2027

Total enrollment

10419

Full Time Degree Seeking Freshmen

1321

Member of Athletic Associations

NCAA

Total staff

312 full time, 286 part time

Veterans affair office

No

California State University-Bakersfield Student Body

Undergraduate vs. graduate students

Undergraduate: 8,865
Graduate: 1,554

Full-time vs. part-time students

Full-time: 8,333
Part-time: 2,086

Full-time degree-seeking students by gender

Women: 851
Men: 470

Students by race/ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino: 6,325
Black or African American: 386
White: 1,003
American Indian or Alaska Native: 28
Asian: 546
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 6
Two or more races: 217
Unknown: 318

Freshly enrolled students' age

Under 25 years
Over 25 years

California State University-Bakersfield Sports & Athletics

  • Member of NCAA

Varsity teams compete against other colleges, intramural teams within the school. Each column says whether men, women or both take part, and whether the sport offers athletic scholarships (Aid).

Sport

Varsity Intramural Aid

Badminton

–Both–

Baseball

MenMen–

Basketball

BothBothMen

Cheerleading

Both–Both

Cross-country running

WomenWomen–

Football

–Both–

Golf

WomenWomenMen

Rock climbing

–Both–

Sand volleyball

WomenBothWomen

Soccer

BothBothMen

Softball

WomenWomenWomen

Swimming and diving

BothBothBoth

Tennis

WomenWomenWomen

Track and field

BothBothBoth

Ultimate Frisbee

–Both–

Volleyball

WomenWomenWomen

Weight lifting

–Both–

Wrestling

MenMenMen

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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