Applicants, Acceptance Rate, Yield Trends at CSU Bakersfield

56.89%

Applicants - since 2015

25.10%

Acceptance Rate

The average acceptance rate at CSU Bakersfield over the past 10 years is 73.34%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 93.85%. Compared to the previous year, it became easier to gain admission to CSU Bakersfield in 2025. The acceptance rate at CSU Bakersfield is relatively high, giving applicants a greater chance of admission.

The acceptance rate has increased each year for the past 4 years, indicating decreasing selectivity.

The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 20.22%, and the 2025 yield is 10.42%. Overall, the yield has decreased by 58.73% from 2015 to 2025.

The number of CSU Bakersfield applicants decreased by 5.17% (721 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 56.89% overall.

Key Takeaways: CSU Bakersfield Admission Metrics

Acceptance Rate Overview

The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 93.85%, showing a decreasing selectivity trend. This suggests that CSU Bakersfield is admitting a higher proportion of applicants, which may indicate either an increase in application quality or a strategic enrollment decision by the institution.

Yield Rate & Enrollment Patterns

The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 10.42%. The declining yield trend suggests that a lower percentage of admitted students are choosing to enroll at CSU Bakersfield. This pattern may reflect increased competition from peer institutions, changing student demographics, or shifts in institutional enrollment strategy.

Application Volume & Admission Trends

For the 2025 admission cycle, CSU Bakersfield received approximately 13,229 applications, admitted 12,416 students, and enrolled 1,294 students. The rising application volume trend indicates that CSU Bakersfield is attracting an increasing number of prospective students over time. This growth in applications typically reflects enhanced institutional visibility, improved marketing initiatives, or increasing perceived value in the higher education market.

Acceptance Rate Changes

CSU Bakersfield 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at CSU Bakersfield over the past decade show a pattern of decreasing selectivity, with the acceptance rate rising year-over-year for 4 consecutive years. The average acceptance rate over this period is 73.34%, while the most recent rate stands at 93.85%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.

For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 93.85%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 70.06% and for women is 75.68%.

The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at CSU Bakersfield have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).

YearTotalMenWomen
2015-16 68.75% 65.58% 71.04%
2016-17 67.82%
-0.93%
63.57%
-2.01%
70.76%
-0.28%
2017-18 61.12%
-6.70%
56.22%
-7.36%
64.51%
-6.25%
2018-19 23.02%
-38.10%
19.08%
-37.14%
26.08%
-38.43%
2019-20 80.71%
57.69%
77.25%
58.17%
83.25%
57.17%
2020-21 78.38%
-2.33%
72.85%
-4.40%
81.99%
-1.26%
2021-22 85.00%
6.62%
81.01%
8.16%
88.01%
6.01%
2022-23 86.55%
1.55%
84.66%
3.66%
87.84%
-0.17%
2023-24 88.19%
1.65%
87.09%
2.43%
89.01%
1.17%
2024-25 93.85%
5.66%
93.26%
6.17%
94.27%
5.26%
Average 73.34% 70.06% 75.68%
California State University-Bakersfield Acceptance Rate Trends Over Time - Historical Admission Rate Data Visualization Chart

Admission Yield (Enrollment Rate) Changes

CSU Bakersfield has demonstrated a decline in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has decreased from 25.25% in 2015 to 10.42% in 2025, representing a 58.73% decrease. The 10-year average yield stands at 20.22%, reflecting weakening enrollment performance.

The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at CSU Bakersfield from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has decreased by 58.73% over this period.

YearTotalMenWomen
2015-16 25.25% 25.01% 25.42%
2016-17 23.66%
-1.59%
23.16%
-1.85%
23.97%
-1.45%
2017-18 26.45%
2.79%
27.61%
4.45%
25.75%
1.78%
2018-19 56.66%
30.20%
59.79%
32.18%
54.88%
29.12%
2019-20 14.95%
-41.70%
13.70%
-46.09%
15.81%
-39.07%
2020-21 14.77%
-0.19%
12.36%
-1.34%
16.16%
0.36%
2021-22 11.00%
-3.77%
10.01%
-2.35%
12.00%
-4.16%
2022-23 9.25%
-1.75%
8.22%
-1.79%
9.93%
-2.08%
2023-24 9.79%
0.54%
9.27%
1.06%
10.16%
0.23%
2024-25 10.42%
0.64%
9.05%
-0.23%
11.38%
1.22%
Average 20.22% 19.82% 20.54%
California State University-Bakersfield enrollment rate trends chart showing historical yield changes from 2015 to 2025

Applicants, Admitted, and Enrolled Headcount Changes

Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 11,577, the average number of admitted is 8,683, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 1,349.

The number of CSU Bakersfield applicants decreased by 5.17% (721 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 56.89% overall.

The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at California State University-Bakersfield from 2015 to 2025.

YearApplicantsAdmittedEnrolled
2015-16 8,432 5,797 1,464
2016-17 8,487
0.65%
5,756
-0.71%
1,362
-6.97%
2017-18 8,882
4.65%
5,429
-5.68%
1,436
5.43%
2018-19 11,455
28.97%
2,637
-51.43%
1,494
4.04%
2019-20 12,935
12.92%
10,440
295.90%
1,561
4.48%
2020-21 12,235
-5.41%
9,590
-8.14%
1,416
-9.29%
2021-22 12,334
0.81%
10,484
9.32%
1,153
-18.57%
2022-23 13,834
12.16%
11,973
14.20%
1,107
-3.99%
2023-24 13,950
0.84%
12,303
2.76%
1,204
8.76%
2024-25 13,229
-5.17%
12,416
0.92%
1,294
7.48%
Average 11,577 8,683 1,349
California State University-Bakersfield - 10 Year Applicants, Admissions, and Enrollment Trends Chart

Compare Acceptance Rate Change to Similar Colleges

The following table compares California State University-Bakersfield' acceptance rate to similar schools.

20242025Change %
California State University-Bakersfield88.19%93.85%6.42%
Chicago State University43.26%40.52%6.76%
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley94.19%84.82%11.05%
California Baptist University84.88%73.57%15.37%
Seattle University76.92%76.05%1.14%
Utah Valley University---

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