Founded in 1950, California Baptist University. is a Private college. Located in California, which is a city setting in California, the campus itself is Urban. The campus is home to 6,937 full time undergraduate students, and 2,220 full time graduate students.
The California Baptist University Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 18:1. There are 303 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at California Baptist University include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.
Quick Facts
Acceptance Rate
63%
Application Deadline
Application Fee
45
SAT Range
850-1100
ACT Range
19-24
Admissions at CBU are considered Selective, with ,106% of all applicants being admitted.
In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 23 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.
77% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 45% were in the top quarter, and 15% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.
STUDENT LIFE Reviews
We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at California Baptist University.
194 Students rated on-campus housing 4.3 stars. 44 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate off-campus housing?
135 Students rated off-campus housing 3.5 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus food?
206 Students rated campus food 4.6 stars. 69 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus facilities?
207 Students rated campus facilities 4.6 stars. 63 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate class size?
207 Students rated class size 4.7 stars. 71 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate school activities?
204 Students rated school activities 4.3 stars. 52 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate local services?
205 Students rated local services 4.1 stars. 45 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate academics?
207 Students rated academics 4.4 stars. 54 % gave the school a 5.0.
California Baptist University REVIEWS
What's your overall opinion of California Baptist University?
141 Students rated California Baptist University
Natalie
Prospective04/05/2025
What really draws me to California Baptist University is how welcoming and supportive it is. From the moment I got connected, I felt like I wasn’t just another student, I was part of a community. It’s a faith-based school, which is important to me, and I love that my values are reflected in both the classroom and campus life. It’s a place where I can grow not just academically, but personally and spiritually too.
One thing that really stands out is the support system here. The professors genuinely care and take time to help you succeed. The student success coaches are always checking in, encouraging me, and making sure I have what I need to stay on track. And my classmates? Some of them have become my closest friends. We lean on each other, celebrate each other, and that kind of connection makes all the difference.
CBU isn’t just a university to me, it feels like home
Emilen
Prospective04/04/2025
What really stands out to me is intramural sports. For example, falleyball is a huge intramural tournament with lots of participants. It allows everyone to play the sport even if they don't have much experience. You can get the feeling of being a famous athlete without having to join a D-1 sports program. This year, the stands were full during the finals game. It is incredible how people without much experience can play in a game with several thousand spectators! This is incredible and it brings the community together since they can have fun by playing sports in a friendly form.
Abigail
California Baptist University is an awesome place to be! I visited for a high school class (The Ignite STEM and Leadership Academy) and had an awesome time there! The food was amazing and I loved the way the campus looked. The only thing I disliked was that getting lost on the big campus was pretty easy. But I hope I can visit again sometime!
Aveya
California Baptist University has truly impressed me with its welcoming atmosphere, strong sense of community, and commitment to academic excellence. The faculty are dedicated to supporting students, and the integration of faith with learning provides a unique and enriching experience. I appreciate the vibrant campus life and the diverse opportunities for involvement, from academic programs to service projects. The university does a fantastic job preparing students for both professional success and personal growth, fostering a holistic approach to education
Eddie
California Baptist University (CBU) is a faith-based institution that is predicated on the Great Commision given to believers by Jesus before His ascension to Heaven. They are grounded in the traditions of the Southern Baptist Denomination but welcome all denominations of Christianity. Students and professors alike will show you that their intention is to model Jesus in every aspect of their lives so that others might experience His grace so they too can be a follower. It is not a weak faith that drives their campus, nor is it a stern helicopter parent, rather it is a spirit of honor and accountability which motivates students to strive for greatness in every area of their lives. Though a profession of faith is not required to attend, there is a place for everyone at CBU to call home. The student population is medium-sized compared to other universities, with about 10,000 students combined of undergraduates and graduates. It will be felt in Freshman year classes and anytime people are trying to find parking around noon, but will slowly die out towards Sophomore year of classes. The academics offered is rigorous but needed in today's pool of graduates entering the workforce. Student life is thriving with activities occurring every week, not to just take students' minds off of due dates and assignments, but to encourage each other to be persistent in their studies. Sports is nothing they are shy of, with all sports being D1 in the NCAA tournament, and if that is not desired they do offer recreational sports that still present friendly competition. The facilities and resources that are offered at CBU guarantee that students are not left behind. Whether that be free counseling for any situation life throws at you, free resources to aid students after graduation, excellent student success coaches to navigate courses schedules & the path towards graduation, or just professors offering office hours. Food is superior at CBU with their very own Chick-Fil-A on campus, the infamous coffee shop Wandas, the award-winning Alumni Dining Commons, and of course the personal Habit-grill. Whether students come for the sunny Southern California weather or a faith-based education, CBU is life changing both for the believer and unbeliever.
Hank
This school is immaculate and open-casual. It is in the middle of Riverside, not far from downtown, so there is stuff to do around the college. The college itself is very nice, and most of the buildings are pretty new. There is always new construction. The classes are a smaller size, meaning I can talk this my teachers more often with I really enjoy. It is very calming waling though campuses of a coo, day taking in the trees and the buildings. It had amazing food there and is not far form food outside of campus either.
Rio
California Baptist University is a great school to attend for a college education. Many successful alumni have graduated from this university. CalBaptist is one of the top schools in California. They accept those with a good GPA and desire a college education. It may be a Christian college after all it is a Baptist university, students are not required to be Christians or catholic to attend all are welcome.
Hanna
I have been recently accepted in to Cal Baptist University. I am enrolled for the Fall of 2024 in the Ed.D program. So far, my experience has been very pleasant. I have met with professors from the program on two occasions. My questions via Zoom, email and text have been answered in a timely manner. The admissions staff are very accommodating. I have attended a soccer game which was very exciting and fun. I am looking forward to starting my program in the Fall.
Lani
Overall, California Baptist University is a safe learning environment. The campus has a very inviting environment and aims to create a culture of high achieving academically minded students. This university helps its students feel spiritually secure and cultivates substantial, independent-minded students. I believe California Baptist is a fantastic university if one is looking for a mid to smaller-sized college experience. There are multiple opportunities to get involved, from music and arts to sports and intramural activities alongside extracurricular clubs and groups. With its smaller classroom sizes, students can connect better to both the faculty and staff as well as other students on campus, making the overall experience less daunting and a smoother transition for newly graduated high school students as well as those who have been out of school for a span of time. Regardless of religion, status, or culture, California Baptist University aims to create a home for every student.
kaylica
I love this school and I’m looking forward to spring 23 semester. This school has been a dream of mine, they cater to my spiritual beliefs and my desire to achieve my goal of nursing. I have so much to give back into the world and I know calbaptist can help me do it. GoLancers!
Daniel
I have friends that go here, and I was able to go and visit during the senior preview day last month. I had a blast there; 10/10, I highly recommend!
Monique
California Baptist University is a type a school where learn about God and people. Everyone are different in their own ways, but that is what makes it interesting . The reason behind is that we accept each other for who they are. The professor over there teach us more than certain major, they teach us the world rather it is good or bad.
Elizabeth
I love the community. Everyone is so voting and so accepting that you never feel out of place. It was definitely one of the reasons I chose CBU. Not only are the students extrémeles friendly but the staff are too. All they want is for you to succeed, and that means so much to me.
Stephen
It is a great school. I was really scared the first time I went here, but now, it is somewhere you just feel very comfortable at. The school really does feel like a Christian school and you really do learn more about God and the religion. The name Baptist does obviously mean a Christian school, but I’ve been to Christian schools before, there is the background but it does not feel that cultural about the religion. The teachers are really supportive and want you to pass and understand that you don’t understand and help you instead of just thinking what they are teaching is easy just because they already know it.
Carol
It's the best place I can be part of. I love the community of CBU seeing in it all elements needed in an educational safe healthy environment and graduating intellectual smart individuals, equipping them with all possible knowledge and mind shaping for the future and helping their societies to develop
The fall 2020 acceptance rate for California Baptist University is 63%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020, _____ students were offered admission.
What should every freshman at your school know before they start?
I will tell myself as a high school senior that college is harder than high school. I will tell myself to obtain good habits so that when I go to college it will not be hard for me to do well. In high school it was easy to depend on my teachers. In high school we have to ask teachers permission and explain. In college it us up to us to attend and no one will ask me anything. I will also tell myself that I should put more effort to get a high GPA and complete many scholarships. If I do this in high school, when I am in college I will not have to worry about getting money to pay for my education. I should keep in my mind that I should put effort to do well so I do not put a financial burden on my parents.Overall I would tell myself not to slack off in high school because I am the only one who will struggle in college and dragg my parents with me when it comes to paying for college. Good students get more money, in high school that should be my goal.
Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.
A welcoming environment with a strong community among all students, lead by student leaders and faculty who invest and engage in students lives both academically, personally, and spiritually.
The best thing about CBU is the community feel about the campus. No matter who you are, everyone on campus is extremely friendly, wants to meet you and wants you to feel welcome! They also host the most amazing events for both residents and commuters to get involved in and to help you build friendships with one another. Oh and by the way, the food is pretty great too.
What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?
The worst aspect of CBU would be the expensive tuition of 38 thousand dollars a year-about 18-19 thousand a semester. It has been diffficult to find money to attend CBU because two of their most commonly given scholarships are for pastor's kin and students who have a sibling attending the school at the same time as them. I am neither of these. I am not in a sport, choir, or drama either which are also very common ways of earning money.
What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?
I wish that I had known how much fun I was going to have while being taught. I also wish that I had known about all the wonderful relationships that I would make because it would have taken away my nervousness at being in an entirely new situation. CBU is amazing and the people are wonderful.
What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?
My pride and joy about my school is the beauty of the campus, the constant opportunities they always provide for us, and of course the wonderful food considering it is reated one of the best in the country.
I do appreciate this school. i like the environment and interaction between people. In offices there is no bureaucracy and services are offered timely and accurately. The admission is not very strict if you are an average student. People when I tell them that I got to CBU they are like amazed because it is private christian university that is respected in the inland empire, California. Recently they have been a problem of parking but the school is doing its best to solve it. Another problem is the tuition which is a little high but is worth it. For those people interested in studying liberal studies and christian studied or MBA but looking for Christian environment, I would recommend CBU. The school is not too small or too large, the size is OK. the longest distance student travel is from engineering building to the chapel which is 4 minutes on a bike. Something that I will always remember is the retreat of freshmen in the mountains. It was super cool.
All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA.
Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.
95% of students attending California Baptist University receive some sort of financial aid.
44% were awarded federal grants.74%received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.
