CSU Bakersfield's tuition & fees has increased from $17,971 (2015) to $20,687 (2025), and the rate of tuition increase is 15.11% over the past 10 years. The graduate school tuition & fees has raised from $17,005 (year 2015) to $19,691 (year 2025).
The 2025 tuition & fees have risen more than 5% this year (2025) at California State University-Bakersfield.
CSU Bakersfield's tuition increase rate is higher than the California's average increase rate of 14.58%. Compare to all colleges in United States, it's increase rate is higher than the average increase rate of 10.99%.
Cost of Attendance (COA) Trends
The total cost of attendance (COA), including tuition & fees, books & supplies costs, and living costs, increased by 14.94% from 2015 ($35,164).
For the current academic year 2024-2025, CSU Bakersfield's COA is $40,419, which is increased by 4.02% from last year.
The following table and chart show changes to CSU Bakersfield's COA over the past 10 years.
Tuition & Fees Changes
The tuition & fees have increased 15.11% for the last 10 years , and the 2025 tuition & fees are $18,684. The following table and chart show the tuition & fees changes at California State University-Bakersfield over last the 10 years.
Books & Supplies Costs Changes
The cost of purchasing books & supplies which are required/recommended for courses $954, and it has decreased -48.71% from the year 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Books & Supplies | Change by Year |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $1,860 | - |
|---|
| 2016-17 | $1,898 | 2.04% |
|---|
| 2017-18 | $1,948 | 2.63% |
|---|
| 2018-19 | $2,002 | 2.77% |
|---|
| 2019-20 | $2,058 | 2.80% |
|---|
| 2020-21 | $1,244 | -39.55% |
|---|
| 2021-22 | $1,266 | 1.77% |
|---|
| 2022-23 | $1,294 | 2.21% |
|---|
| 2023-24 | $1,068 | -17.47% |
|---|
| 2024-25 | $954 | -10.67% |
|---|
Living Costs Changes
The living costs including room, board, and other living expenses have increased 15.46% when a student lives on-campus facilities and 27.73% when living-off campus from the year 2015 to 2025. The following table shows the changes in living costs at California State University-Bakersfield.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | Change by Year |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $15,333 | $15,218 | - |
|---|
| 2016-17 | $16,822 | $16,704 | 9.71% |
|---|
| 2017-18 | $16,871 | $16,035 | 0.29% |
|---|
| 2018-19 | $16,698 | $16,554 | -1.03% |
|---|
| 2019-20 | $15,554 | $16,498 | -6.85% |
|---|
| 2020-21 | $16,052 | $18,208 | 3.20% |
|---|
| 2021-22 | $16,032 | $19,938 | -0.12% |
|---|
| 2022-23 | $17,430 | $21,892 | 8.72% |
|---|
| 2023-24 | $18,212 | $22,740 | 4.49% |
|---|
| 2024-25 | $18,778 | $24,388 | 3.11% |
|---|
Compare Tuition Change to Similar Colleges
The following table compares 2025 tuition and increase rate from last year between California State University-Bakersfield and similar schools.
| 2025 | 2024 | Increase Rate |
|---|
| California State University-Bakersfield | $20,687
($8,087) | $19,576
($7,696) | 5.68% |
|---|
|
| Seattle University | $56,721
($42,885) | $54,285
($42,885) | 4.49% |
|---|
|
| California Baptist University | $41,228
($32,256) | $39,720
($32,256) | 3.80% |
|---|
|
| New Mexico State University-Main Campus | $25,307
($8,183) | $25,271
($8,147) | 0.14% |
|---|
|
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | $19,645
($9,799) | $19,542
($9,467) | 0.53% |
|---|
|
| University of Missouri-Kansas City | $32,271
($13,371) | $30,734
($12,734) | 5.00% |
|---|
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