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California Baptist University

7.5(1)
VerifiedPrivate (Not for Profit)Estd. 1950
Founded
1950
Type
Private (Not for Profit)
University Guide

About California Baptist University

Explore overview, courses, fees, admissions, campus life, scholarships and student accommodation guidance in one premium Admistay guide.

California Baptist University (CBU) is an esteemed private Christian Institution in South California that was established in 1950 by the California Southern Baptist Convention. Thus, all of its faculty and staff are of Christian faith. The institute is a renowned name among universities in US that is currently involved in a number of social and spiritual services in which students get opportunities to teach abroad as it has partnered with universities in Asia and Europe.

The campus of the institute is set in suburban areas with over 160 acres in area. The college operates on the motto of Know Your Purpose and is highly regarded for its unparalleled Business, Nursing and Liberal Arts courses. It also offers equally coveted programs in the field of accounting, aviation, Christian studies, engineering, nursing, photography etc. It is the 43rd best Regional University.

The university currently has a total of 11,045 students with 38% male and 62% female students that comprise nearly 2% of international candidates from across the globe. Admission at California Baptist University is offered in 3 intakes of Fall, Summer and Spring and observes an acceptance rate of 80% which makes it a lightly competitive organization to get into.

California Baptist University Rankings

California Baptist University is a renowned institution of the U.S. education system. It has been ranked as follows in the latest rankings:

U.S. News and World Report

  • #40 in Regional Universities West
  • #23 in Best Colleges for Veterans
  • #25 in Best Value Schools
  • #13 in Most Innovative Schools
  • #52 in Top Performers on Social Mobility
  • #157 in Best Undergraduate Engineering programs
  • #68 in First-year Experiences

Times Higher Education World University Rankings

  • 501-600th in the U.S. College Rankings

Niche Best Colleges

According to Niche Best Colleges, California Baptist University ranks as follows in America, California and Los Angeles region:

Category Ranking in America Ranking in California Ranking in Los Angeles
Best Online Colleges 15 out of 308 1 out of 17 -
Best Christian College 69 out of 362 8 out of 18 -
Best College 384 out of 1,619 36 out of 114 20 out of 56
Best Value College 761 out of 1,572 66 out of 105 33 out of 53

Highlights

Type Private
Campus Setting Urban
Endowment 54 Million USD
Cost of Attendance 46,640 USD
Campus Housing Capacity 3,078
Student Retention Rate 78%
Admission Helpdesk [email protected], [email protected]
(951) 552-8516/(877) 228-3615/951.343.4690

California Baptist University Campus 

  • California Baptist University has a 162-acre campus on 8432 Magnolia Avenue, Riverside, CA. This historical city has specialty stores, antique districts in the Inland Empire with Mt Rubidoux, Mission Inn and Fairmount Park nearby.
  • The downtown area is within 6 miles away from CBU where students seeking to study in the USA by enrolling at the insute can locate more than 60 restaurants for dining and The Augies, The Daily Brew, and Arcade cafés.
  • The Riverside campus has on-campus residence, recreation centre, intramural sports facility, Wallace Theatre, and dining facility available. It also harbours the region's largest aquatic centers and the Annie Gabriel Library.
  • The Riverside Campus has more than 50 clubs for students to join; such as the Art Therapy and Wellness Club, Athletic Training Student Organisation, Biology Club, Black Student Union, and Disney Club; among others.
  • Intramural Sports with Fortuna Bowl and Lancer Cup is available for all interested students. Over 80% of the students participate in either sports or club activities of the university.
  • Outdoor Adventures are also a special experience for all students residing on campus.
  • The Campus store is open 24*7 to cater to the needs of the students. Separate Safety Services in-campus is available in the university.

California Baptist University Accommodation

  • California Baptist University has more than 10 residential spaces available on-campus. Students can live according to their gender and educational status in College Park apartments, or Lancer Arms suites, or The Cottages.
  • There are three residence halls, namely- Tower Hall, Smith Hall, and Simmons Hall. The following facilities are available at these-
    • Furnished Double rooms for twin beds, dresser etc for undergraduate women (Simmons Hall)
    • Furnished Double rooms with bed, desk, sink etc for undergraduate men(Smith Hall)
    • University Place houses Transfer and Continuing Residential upperclassmen in these co-ed apartments. Students get card swipe access control for parking; fully furnished single and double bedrooms; and a BBQ area outside.
  • Students in graduate programs or of age 21 and above can also apply for condos, apartments, houses off-campus after consulting the Office of Residence through Apartment Finder, or by emailing the following email: [email protected]
  • Students will pay 3,355 USD- 3,550 USD for rooms and about 570 USD- 3,045 USD for meal plans.
  • On-campus residence application for international students is available on the International Student Housing page. Students will have to submit the following to apply-
    • Application form
    • Bank statement
    • Copy of passport

California Baptist University Courses

  • California Baptist University offers a range of courses for international students including associate, master's, bachelor's and doctoral programs through 80 majors, 150 major concentrations, 50 minors, 30 master's and about 5 doctoral programs in Finance, Law, Business, Engineering, Arts etc.
  • It has more than 10 schools offering all the popular programs of Kinesiology, business, Nursing, and Psychology.
  • The Dr Robert K Jabs School of Business is ACBSP accredited and offers the MBA program with 5 concentrations including Healthcare and Business Analytics Concentrations.
  • Students can also choose to be enrolled in the university at an early stage through School of Education, School of Christian Monasteries, School of Education and School of Music.
  • Division of Leadership Institute and Online Professional Studies are also applicable for diploma courses.

California Baptist University Application Process

International students who want to seek admissions at California Baptist University can go through the below-mentioned admission process:

Undergraduate Student Admissions

Application Portal: Undergraduate International Application

Application fee: 45 USD

Basic Admission Requirements:

  • Official Transcripts
  • Personal statement
  • Proof of financial support
  • Official High school transcripts
  • TOEFL/IELTS/PTE/CEA/SAT/ACT Score
  • Two Letters of recommendation
  • Essay
  • Statement of purpose
  • F1 visa

Admission Deadlines: Fall- July 1 ; Spring- November 1 

Graduate Student Admissions

How to apply: Graduate International Application

Application Fee: 45 USD

Supporting Documents:

  • Official transcripts
  • Bachelor's degree
  • Recommendations
  • Essay or personal statement
  • GMAT/GRE/TEAS scores
  • I-20
  • Resume
  • Financial statement
  • Clearance of enrollment
  • IELTS/TOEFL/PTE test score

Admission Deadlines: Fall- July 1 ; Spring- November 1 ;Summer- March 1 

MBA Admission Requirements

Students willing to apply for an MBA program can do so by the Fall Priority deadline of May 15  or the Spring Priority deadline of November 1 . Students should have the following to be eligible-

  • 45 USD application fee
  • Bachelor's degree
  • 3.0 GPA
  • Two e-recommendations
  • 500-word essay
  • Resume
  • Interview qualification
  • 80 on TOEFL IBT or 6.5 IELTS

California Baptist University Cost of Attendance

The distribution of expenses in the form of an estimated budget for international students to study in the US is as mentioned below.

  • Annual Tuition fee for undergraduate courses: 33,930 USD
  • Annual Tuition fee for graduate courses: about 14,000-54,000 USD (depends on program chosen)
  • Annual room and board fee for undergraduate and graduate courses: 12,070 USD
  • Miscellaneous fee: 3,700 USD
  • Total cost: above 55,000 USD (Undergraduate)/about 54,000 USD (Graduate)
Expenses Amount (USD) UG Amount (USD) PG
Tuition 33,930 14,000-54,000 USD
Student Activity Fee 310 (fall semester)/160 (spring semester) 310 (fall semester)/160 (spring semester)
Health fee NA NA
Housing and Rooms 3,355- 3,550 3,355-5,035
Meals 2,630 570 - 3,045
Books and Supplies 600 -1,000 600-1,000
Personal Expenses 3,700 3,700
Health Insurance Plan 770 770

Scholarships by California Baptist University

  • A number of need based and merit based grants and scholarships for international students to study in the USA like the Need-Based Grants, International Transfer Scholarship and Ambassador's Scholarship.
  • Students should apply by submitting a GPA of 3.3-3.5 and above with an SAT and ACT Score of 1000 and 20, respectively. English Language Requirements must qualify as well with a minimum of 71 on TOEFL/5.5 on IELTS.
  • International students can receive up to 10,000 USD as need-based grants through the Global Grants Initiatives. Students will be required to make an International Financial Aid Application to receive the same.
  • Students who wish to study Engineering can apply for Engineering Scholarships by contacting the College of Engineering on this email- [email protected]
Scholarships Eligibility Amount
Ambaasador's Scholarship Incoming freshmen
3.5 cumulative GPA
1000 SAT or 20 ACT
12,000 USD per year
Athletic scholarships For male students participating in basketball, baseball, diving,
soccer, swimming, water polo, cross country and track, volleyball, and golf And
For female students participating in basketball, softball, diving, soccer,
swimming, water polo, golf, cross country and track, volleyball and cheer
Contact Athletic Department at (800) 782-3382 ext. 4318
Engineering Scholarships Contact [email protected] 5,000 USD per year

Alumni Network

  • California Baptist University has a number of notable alumni. Some of them are mentioned below-
  • Richard Warren- Author and Founder of the Saddleback Church
  • Drew Shirley- American Rock Guitarist of band Switchfoot
  • Dustin-Leigh Konzelman- Psychologist and Reality TV Contestant in the TV show The Amazing Race

California Baptist University Placements/Work Study

  • On and off campus jobs available along with Internships. Appointments can be made within Monday to Friday in between 8AM - 5PM. Top employers include US Army, NAVSEA, Altura, Swinerton, HPI, Sherwin-Williams etc.
  • Students can work on-campus for 20 hours a week and can check job listings outside the Campus Life Office in the Yeager Center or online here https://www.calbaptist.edu/career. The registration must be made through CBU ID
  • The following documents are required to apply apart from the F1 visa-
    • Job application
    • Department Applications
    • Letter of intent
    • Social Security Number
    • Second letter by the International Center
    • Passport
    • I-94
    • I-20
  • International Students can apply for OPT, before which they should attend the OPT Information Session for a 24 month STEM extension after undergraduate or postgraduate degrees in a DHS approved field if they are currently in post- completion OPT phase with a non-immigration status. Students will have to submit a check or money order of 410 USD to the US department of Homeland Security. Students can find a quick OPT reference here

International students can find on-campus jobs through the CBU Handshake Portal as well as the Interstride platform for H1B Visa holders. The Career Center can be reached on the following address and email:

The University has a tie up with the Handshake portal through which students get the opportunity to access over 7,000 employers worldwide. Some of the top graduates recruiting from the University include Granite, Enterprise, Hajoca, America’s Navy, Marines, Penta Building Group, Sorenson, Tilden-Coil Constructors and many more. Graduates of California Baptist University have an average salary of 63,000 USD.

FAQs

Ques. What is the GPA required to get into California Baptist University?

Ans. There is no minimum GPA requirement for admission to California Baptist University. Admitted students usually have a GPA of 3.6 on 4.0. Also, students with a GPA of 3.5 or above are eligible for higher scholarships.

Ques. What is the acceptance rate of California Baptist University?

Ans. California Baptist University has a moderately selective acceptance rate. In fall, it had an acceptance rate of 78%.

Ques. What majors is California Baptist University known for?

Ans. California Baptist University is well-known for majors in business, commerce, public health, mathematics, psychology, kinesiology and exercise science, liberal arts and sciences, etc.

Ques. How much is the tuition at California Baptist University?

Ans. The undergraduate tuition fee is 33,930 USD. The annual expenses for international students at California Baptist University is 55,000 USD.

Ques. What ACT/ SAT scores are required for admission to California Baptist University?

Ans. Students admitted to California Baptist University had an average SAT score between 990 to 1220 or ACT score between 18 and 24.

Ques. Does California Baptist University have dorms?

Ans. Yes, California Baptist University offers on-campus housing facilities to students.

Ques. What is the campus housing capacity of California Baptist University?

Ans. California Baptist University has a capacity of 3,078 rooms and can accommodate students easily.

Ques. What are the graduation and retention rates of California Baptist University?

Ans. The graduation rate of California Baptist University is 63% while the student retention rate of the university is 78%.

Ques. What are the scholarship options available for the international students?

Ans. California Baptist University offers various scholarships such as Ambassador’s Scholarship, International Transfer Scholarship, Athletic Scholarship, Engineering Scholarships, etc. to international students who meet the eligibility criteria.

Courses & Fees

Compare courses in a cleaner, easier way

Explore tuition, duration, language, eligibility, and exam requirements without the clutter.

Courses

71

Fee from

₹68,818.05

Exams

IELTS · TOEFL

Showing 5 of 55 bachelors

Overview
Degree TypeBachelor
Duration4 years
Study ModeFull Time
LanguageEnglish
Fees
Tuition FeeINR 36.6 L/Yr
Native FeeUSD 39,078 /Yr
Fee trendTuition progression
Official Program Page
Admission Guide

Admission Process

California Baptist University (CBU) offers more than 150 diverse academic courses at the associate, undergraduate, master's and doctoral levels. Applications at CBU are invited thrice a year- in Fall, Spring and Summer semesters. The university accepts applications online through its official website. The university recorded an annual acceptance rate of 80% for Fall, which indicates CBU being a moderately selective institute.

The application fee for all courses at CBU is 45 USD. The California Baptist University provides admissions to International students in a wide range of courses across its 80 majors, 150 major concentrations, 50 minors, 30 master's and about 5 doctoral degree programs. Some of the programs are also available in online mode.

A GPA of 3.0(equivalent to Grade B or 83-86 percent grade) or 2.75(equivalent to Grade B- or 80-82 percent grade) on a scale of 4.0 is required for admission to most of the programs.CBU has currently waived off the SAT or ACT test scores requirements policy.

Highlights

Application Portal University application portal
Application Fee 45 USD
IELTS minimum score 5.5
Application Season Fall, spring and summer
Standardized Test SAT/ACT/IELTS/TOEFL
Acceptance Rate 80%
International Students 2.6%
Academic Calendar Semester-based
Work Experience Recommended
Financial Aid Available
Official Website https://www.calbaptist.com

California Baptist University Application Deadlines

The university accepts applications for both undergraduate as well as graduate courses in three seasonal intakes- fall, summer and spring. International candidates can apply in fall and spring term. Students must submit all the necessary documents by the established deadlines as indicated below:

Semester Application Deadline (Undergraduate) Application Deadline (Graduate)
Fall (September) July 1 July 1
Spring (January) November 1 November 1
Summer (May) ------ March 1

However, the application deadlines of graduate programs might vary in summer sessions, and are given below: For Athletic Training

Application Summer Start
Priority November 15
Standard January 10

For Nursing Program

Application Deadline Fall Spring
Priority May 1 November 1
Standard August 1 December 1

California Baptist University International Admissions

CBU invites applications from international students across the world to its 103 undergraduate, 2 associate, 40 master's and 7 doctoral degree programs. The admission requirements are almost the same for domestic and international students.

Admissions are based on previous academic grades or records. Students must have to complete their secondary education and have good English scores. The following are the specific details regarding international students admissions:

Application Portal: University Online International Application Portal and Application Fee: 45 USD

International Admission Requirement

Below are the details of the prerequisites for international students admission in the California Baptist University:

  • Completed Application Form
  • Non refundable Application Fee
  • English Proficiency Tests Scores
  • Official transcripts
  • A bachelor's degree from an accredited recognised institution- for PG courses
  • GPA requirement must meet the minimum cumulative or last 60 semester unit grade point average specified by each program.
  • Academic LOR
  • Essay
  • Personal Statement showing about your interest and goals
  • Financial Documentation

English Language Proficiency Requirement

International students from non English speaking countries seeking admission at the California Baptist University must demonstrate adequate English Proficiency in order to get enrolled in different programs at CBU. Below are given the minimum test scores required at the time of application:

ELP Test Minimum Score (Undergraduate) Minimum Score (Graduate)
TOEFL iBT 71 80
TOEFL PBT 527 ---
IELTS 5.5 6.0
PTE 48 53
Duolingo 105 ----
SAT(Evidence based reading and writing section) 430 ----
ACT(English section) 16 ----

Students who fail to meet the minimum score criteria and who do not demonstrate the prescribed English Proficiency level, may be granted joint or conditional admission into the Intensive English Program along with the traditional UG program.

US Student Visa Requirements

International candidates seeking admission to California Baptist University will need to apply for a student visa to study in the US. Students can apply for two types of visa-

  • F1 – Traditional Student Visa
  • J1 – Exchange Student Visa

Students must apply to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate to get the US student visa, and schedule an interview appointment with the officials.

Visa requirements are as follows:

  • If students apply for an F or J visa, they are required to pay the SEVIS fee established by the Department of Homeland Security. It is recommended by the university to pay the SEVIS fee at least 3 days before the visa appointment
  • To pay the SEVIS fee, I-20 or DS-2019 is required.
  • Letter of Acceptance by the university
  • Certificate of Finances
  • Passport
  • Photographs
  • An MVR fee receipt
  • SEVIS I-901 fee receipt

California Baptist University Undergraduate Admissions

The university provides undergraduate admissions to over 103+ undergraduate degree programs under different majors and minors such as communication, accounting, education, engineering, business and management, and journalism, computer and information sciences and many more. Some of the programs are also available in online mode. The California Baptist University undergraduate admission office upholds a rolling admission policy. The university does not require a letter of recommendation for admission. Other important admission details are described below:

Application Portal: University Undergraduate Application webpage and Application Fees: 45 USD

Admissions Requirements

  • Completed undergraduate application
  • Non refundable application fee
  • Official transcripts sent directly to CBU undergraduate admission office from the previous high school
  • A GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale is required(equivalent to Grade C, and a percentage grade of 73-76)
  • Academic records containing all the grades, certificate, diplomas as well as transcripts from all your previously attended college and university
  • English proficiency evidence
  • Proof of financial support
  • A 3-5 paragraph on essay

California Baptist University Graduate Admissions

California Baptist University provides admissions to 35+ master's and doctoral degree programs in specializations such as counselling psychology, biomedical sciences, applied mathematics, information technology management, english, architecture etc. The application deadlines for the courses vary by program.

Application Portal: University Graduate Application webpage and Application Fees: 45 USD

Admission Requirements

  • Application form
  • Non-refundable application processing fee
  • Completion of bachelor degree from an accredited institution
  • Official transcripts
    • GPA of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 (83-86%)
  • Letter of recommendation
  • Essay or personal statement
  • Proof of sufficient financial funds
  • Proof of English language proficiency
  • Interview

The detailed admission requirements for admission to some of the top graduate programs at California Baptist University are mentioned in the table below:

Course Transcripts LORs CV/Resume Essay Interview
Master Of Business Administration Required Two Required a 500 word essay Required
Master of Social Work Required Three Not required Comprehensive essay Required
MS in Speech language Pathology Required Three Required 500-1000 words Required
MS in Education Required Three Recommended Required Not Required
MA in English Required Three Not Required At least 500 words Required

The university reviews the applications and supporting documents submitted by the students carefully. Selected students need to submit proof of financial support. Afterwards, they are sent

out a welcome packet which contains their acceptance letter and an I-20 form. International students can then apply for their visa, after accepting the seat.

FAQs

Ques. How hard is it to get into California Baptist?

Ans. The university recorded an acceptance rate of 80%, indicating that getting admission at the college is moderately selective. One can get admission easily after meeting all the eligibility criteria.

Ques. What is the minimum cumulative GPA required for a degree at CBU?

Ans. To get unconditional admission into the California Baptist University, the minimum cumulative GPA required is 3.0 on a scale of 4.0.

Ques. What are the English Proficiency tests accepted at the university?

Ans. TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, Duolingo, SAT and ACT are some of the English language proficiency tests which you can submit at the application requirements.

Ques. What SAT score is required for admission at CBU?

Ans. The university has currently waived off the Standardized test scores for admission at the college. Transcripts, ELP Test scores are the major requirements for applications.

Ques. When will I hear about admission from the college?

Ans. You may expect to receive the admission notification within a few weeks after submitting your application. They can also send the application status in your mail.

Ques. How many programs are offered for admission at CBU?

Ans. The California Baptist University offers admissions to a range of courses in associate, master's, bachelor's and doctoral degree programs through 80 majors, 50 minors, 150 major concentrations, 30 master's and about 5 doctoral programs in Law, Business, Finance, Engineering, Arts etc.

Placements & Recruiters

California Baptist University Placement Details

California Baptist University in Riverside, California, United States placement details include salary insights, top recruiters, and hiring trends to help students understand career outcomes and campus opportunities.

Students usually compare highest package, average package, and recruiter profile before applying. This section gives a compact overview of career outcomes and placement visibility in Riverside, California, United States.

Recruiters
N/A
Salary Metrics
0/2
Placement Metric

Highest Package

N/A

Represents the top salary package reported in the available placement information.

Placement Metric

Average Package

N/A

Shows the typical package range students may expect based on the available average salary data.

Placement information is currently limited.

More salary or recruiter data may be updated later for this college.

Rankings over the years

Year-wise highlights from global and country rankings available for this university.

2024

Highlights
2024
  • Nursing: #43 in country
  • Top source: US News
  • 1 ranked streams
  • Focus areas: Nursing
  • 1 ranking record in 2024

2025

Highlights
2025
  • Public Health: #23 in country
  • Top source: US News
  • 2 ranked streams
  • Focus areas: Social Work, Public Health
  • 1 ranking record in 2025

Contact Information

8432 Magnolia Avenue, Riverside, CA 92504

+1-877-228-3615

Student Reviews & Ratings

Overall sentiment and category-wise rating summary

Overall score

7.5/10
Top Rated

Based on 1 rating

Rating Breakdown

Visual summary of rating distribution and categories

Live Summary
Academic
9.0/10
Faculty
10.0/10
Infrastructure
7.0/10
Accommodation
10.0/10
Placement
9.0/10