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California State University-Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA 8,577 Undergrads 64.4% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$19,522
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$5,652
After Aid
Median Earnings
$59,109
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$5,652
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$59,109
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate64.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients61.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time83.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS69.3%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
93.8%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$529k
+$62k
+$44k
Median Cost$6k/yr
+$508k
+$41k
+$24k
Full Cost$20k/yr
+$458k
-$9k
-$26k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
39
∞
Median Cost$6k/yr
47
117%
Full Cost$20k/yr
Never
-37%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return36%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-34%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Bachelor's Degrees
Agricultural Business and Management
BachCIP: 0101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,647
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 2699
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,834
Natl Median: $65,681
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,885
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,705
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$45k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$68,270
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$86k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,989
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$93,797
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$291k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$80,432
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$189k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,715
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$78,029
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$171k
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$97,998
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$323k
Engineering Science
BachCIP: 1413
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$88,948
Natl Median: $93,782
Lifetime Value Added
+$254k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$52,420
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
BachCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$82,315
Natl Median: $56,185
Lifetime Value Added
+$203k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$43,534
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,989
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
+$109k
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs
BachCIP: 5111
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,911
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,081
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$778
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,850
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,529
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,470
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$66k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Natural Sciences
BachCIP: 3018
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,935
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,882
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,207
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Public Administration
BachCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,595
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$102,298
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$356k
Religion/Religious Studies
BachCIP: 3802
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$52,618
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,553
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
Master's Degrees
Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$120,351
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$407k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,014
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$92,010
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
+$160k
English Language and Literature, General
MastCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
MastCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health and Medical Administrative Services
MastCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
MastCIP: 3099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,122
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$85,123
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$100k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$111,769
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$372k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
MastCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$86,527
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
+$112k
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$82,248
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Graduate Certificates
Computer Science
Gr-CertCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $125,742
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
Gr-CertCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$90,856
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
+$265k
Other Programs
Education, General
DegCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,645
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.