California Baptist University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Riverside, California. It enrolls 8,179 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
60/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes50
Value35
Affordability49
Selectivity33
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 84.9%, California Baptist University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
84.9%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether California Baptist University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
4.7 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending California Baptist University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $26,285 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$26,285
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
42%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
61%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$41,228
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,140
Room & Board (off-campus)
$22,088
Books & Supplies
$1,062
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,448
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,930
Total Cost of Attendance
$54,038
Application fee: $45 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$22,298
$30,001 – $48,000
$21,941
$48,001 – $75,000
$22,620
$75,001 – $110,000
$26,179
Over $110,000
$33,971
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,25010%percentile
$9,50025%percentile
$26,063Medianpercentile
$31,00075%percentile
$42,80090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $22,250
↓ $3,813
No Pell $17,500
↓ $8,563
Dependent students $18,325
↓ $7,738
Independent students $25,062
↓ $1,001
Female students $21,250
↓ $4,813
Male students $19,129
↓ $6,934
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $11,000, less than completers ($26,063), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
58% of full-time students who enrolled at California Baptist University graduate within six years, and 74% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
58%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
74%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered California Baptist University earn a median of $61,504 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$61,504
Earning > $25K
79%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$41,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$57,600
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$40,700
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$47,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$51,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $15,900, about 28% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
22.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 81% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
California Baptist University is home to 8,179 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 42% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
8,179
Part-Time
9%
First-Generation
42%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 43.8%3,583
White 30.0%2,454
Black 6.9%563
Other 6.7%546
Asian 5.9%480
International 1.8%147
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at California Baptist University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityRiverside, California
Housing
Mostly residential3,670 beds on campus
Adult Learners
18%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
California Baptist University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
101 distinct programs across
25 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at California Baptist University is 20:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
20:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$288M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$96,328
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
371 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
151
41%
$107,551
Associate Professors
92
25%
$98,937
Assistant Professors
96
26%
$89,314
Instructors
18
5%
$63,381
Lecturers
14
4%
$48,600
Pros & Cons of California Baptist University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how California Baptist University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Solid post-graduation earnings
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Above-average net price
Larger class sizes than typical
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, California Baptist University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about California Baptist University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about California Baptist University.
Is California Baptist University hard to get into?
California Baptist University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 84.9%.
What is the acceptance rate at California Baptist University?
California Baptist University has an acceptance rate of 84.9%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does California Baptist University cost?
The average net price after aid at California Baptist University is $26,285 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is California Baptist University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $61,504 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $26,285 per year. That's roughly 2.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is California Baptist University known for?
California Baptist University is best known for its programs in Counseling Psychology, Education, General, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do California Baptist University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering California Baptist University are $61,504, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is California Baptist University accredited?
Yes. California Baptist University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
How many students attend California Baptist University?
California Baptist University enrolls 8,179 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at California Baptist University?
California Baptist University graduates 58% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is California Baptist University a public or private college?
California Baptist University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is California Baptist University located?
California Baptist University is located in Riverside, California.
What programs does California Baptist University offer?
California Baptist University offers 101 distinct programs. The most popular include Counseling Psychology, Education, General, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at California Baptist University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at California Baptist University is 20:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in California
Other colleges in California share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
H
How to Build Your College List Pillar
The full process of narrowing from 3,839 US colleges to a shortlist of ~10. Cost, location, size, selectivity, and fit factors that actually predict whether you'll thrive.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
Graduation rate
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College outcomes
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Rankings That Feature California Baptist University
California Baptist University appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
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