Paying for CSU Bakersfield
Undergraduate Tuition & Fees
$20,687 ($8,087)
Graduate Tuition & Fees
$19,691 ($9,611)
On-campus Living Costs
$18,778
Off-campus Living Costs
$24,388
Undergraduate Tuition per Credit Hour
$420
Graduate Tuition per Credit Hour
$420
The 2025 tuition & fees of California State University-Bakersfield are $8,087 for California residents and $20,687 for out-of-state students. For graduate programs, the tuition & fees are $9,611 for California residents and $19,691 for out-of-state students.
Compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in California, both undergraduate and graduate tuition & fees are average.
Compared to similar schools in rankings such as Academy of Art University and California Baptist University, tuition & fees of California State University-Bakersfield is relatively inexpensive where the average tuition & fees of the schools are $27,993.
The average living cost of the school is $18,778 when a student lives in on-campus housing. When a student lives off-campus, the average living cost is $24,388.
*Data Source: 2024-2025 Tuition & Fees - NCES (Last Update: 6/05/2025)
2025 Tuition and Comparison Chart
The following chart visualizes the CSU Bakersfield's 2025 tuition & fees and compares to similar schools by school type, level, and location.
2025 Tuition & fees
The 2025 undergraduate tuition & fees at California State University-Bakersfield are $8,087 for California residents and $20,687 for out-of-state students. The undergraduate tuition & fees have increased by 5.68% from last year.
The 2025 graduate tuition & fees are $9,611 for California residents and $19,691 for out-of-state students. The graduate tuition & fees have increased by 5.67% from last year.
The following table and chart show the 2025 tuition & fees and the tuition trends over the last 5 years.
| Year | Undergraduate | Graduate | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Residents | Out-of-State | California Residents | Out-of-State | |
| 2021 | $7,499 | $19,379 | $8,933 | $18,437 |
| 2022 | $7,579 | $19,459 | $9,013 | $18,517 |
| 2023 | $7,637 | $19,517 | $9,071 | $18,575 |
| 2024 | $7,696 | $19,576 | $9,130 | $18,634 |
| 2025 | $8,087 | $20,687 | $9,611 | $19,691 |
Living Costs
The 2025 average on-campus living costs is $18,778 including room & board and other living expenses (a student lives in on-campus housing such as dormitory and school-owned apartment). For students living in off-campus housing, the average living cost is $24,388.
The living cost at the school has increased by 3.11% from last year.
The following table and chart show the living costs changes over the last 5 years.
| Year | On-Campus | Off-Campus | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Room & Board | Other Expenses | Room & Board | Other Expenses | |
| 2021 | $12,900 | $3,152 | $13,844 | $4,364 |
| 2022 | $12,900 | $3,132 | $15,464 | $4,474 |
| 2023 | $14,230 | $3,200 | $17,214 | $4,678 |
| 2024 | $14,430 | $3,782 | $16,316 | $6,424 |
| 2025 | $15,076 | $3,702 | $17,674 | $6,714 |
Books & Supplies Costs Trends Chart
The 2025 average cost for purchasing books & supplies is $954 at California State University-Bakersfield. The books & supplies cost has decreased by 0.89% from last year.
The following table and chart show the 2025 books & supplies costs and the trends over the last 5 years.
| Year | Books & Supplies Costs |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $1,244 |
| 2022 | $1,266 |
| 2023 | $1,294 |
| 2024 | $1,068 |
| 2025 | $954 |
Tuition Per Credit Hour
The 2025 undergraduate tuition per credit hour at California State University-Bakersfield is $420 on average over undergraduate programs. The undergraduate tuition per credit hour has increased by 6.06% from last year.
The 2025 graduate tuition per credit hour is $420 on average. The graduate tuition per credit hour has increased by 6.06% from last year.
The following table and chart show the 2025 tuition per credit hour and its trends over the last 5 years.
| Year | Undergraduate | Graduate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $396 | $396 |
| 2022 | $396 | $396 |
| 2023 | $396 | $396 |
| 2024 | $396 | $396 |
| 2025 | $420 | $420 |