California State University, Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA

Background Image

California State University, Bakersfield - Bakersfield, CA

Area Guide

Academic hub of southern California’s oil country

Public Suburban CSUB CSU Cal State Roadrunners

Opening its doors in 1970, CSU Bakersfield is one of the youngest schools in the California State University system, but has rapidly built a reputation as an excellent academic and cultural institution for the region. The university is well known for its unique petroleum geology program, and campus facilities like the CSUB Art Center and the Todd Madigan Art Gallery are major attractions for folks all around the community.

The CSU Bakersfield campus sits in a mostly suburban area on the west end of town. Apartments, condos, and houses within walking distance of CSUB are plentiful, and often surprisingly budget-friendly. Many of the most affordable rentals near the university can be found just southeast of campus, in the Oaks, Amberton, and Sagepoint neighborhoods.

A few large shopping centers are close by, and the Park at River Walk a few blocks west is a terrific place to soak in the sunshine, bike the trails, or catch a concert at Spectrum Amphitheatre. Downtown Bakersfield is a bit of a hike, but offers a stellar assortment of eclectic restaurants, art galleries, bars, and music venues.

Rent Trends

As of August 2025, the average apartment rent in Bakersfield, CA is $953 for a studio, $1,205 for one bedroom, $1,450 for two bedrooms, and $1,850 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Bakersfield has increased by 1.7% in the past year.

  • Studio

  • 452 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $953/month

    Average Rent

  • 1 BR

  • 639 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,205/month

    Average Rent

  • 2 BR

  • 910 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,450/month

    Average Rent

  • 3 BR

  • 1,210 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,850/month

    Average Rent

Transportation

48

Car-Dependent

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

This area is considered a car-dependent area and most errands will require a car.

22

Minimal Transit

out of 100 TransitScore® Rating

You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.

45

Somewhat Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

You might be able to find places to ride your bike in this area, but you’ll most likely want your car for most errands.

Schools

W. A. Kendrick Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

679 Students

Ronald Reagan Elementary

Public

Grades K-6

897 Students

Norris Elementary

Public

Grades K-6

860 Students

William B. Bimat Elementary

Public

Grades K-6

515 Students

Old River Elementary

Public

Grades K-6

867 Students

Leon H. Ollivier Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

1,008 Students

Earl Warren Junior High

Public

Grades 7-8

937 Students

Rosedale Middle

Public

Grades 7-8

745 Students

Freedom Middle

Public

Grades 7-8

698 Students

Fruitvale Junior High

Public

Grades 7-8

652 Students

Stockdale High

Public

Grades 9-12

2,298 Students

Frontier High

Public

Grades 9-12

2,072 Students

Liberty High

Public

Grades 9-12

2,358 Students

Centennial High

Public

Grades 9-12

2,175 Students

Ridgeview High

Public

Grades 9-12

2,688 Students

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Buena Vista Museum of Natural History
  • Kern County Museum

Commuter Rail

Airports

  • Meadows Field

Top Apartments Near California State University, Bakersfield

Houses Near California State University, Bakersfield

Property Management Companies

Search Nearby Rentals

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in June 2025.