About
California State University, San Bernardino is a public research university in San Bernardino, California, United States. Founded in 1965, it is part of the California State University system. The main campus sits on 441 acres (178 ha) in the University District of San Bernardino, with a branch campus of 40 acres (16 ha) in Palm Desert, California, opened in 1986. Cal State San Bernardino's fall 2020 enrollment was 19,404. In fall 2019, it had 505 full-time faculty, of which 385 were on the tenure track.
Admissions & acceptance rate
First-time freshman admissions: how selective the college is, and how many admitted students choose to enroll.
Graduation rate & outcomes
Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.
Pell equity
Pell recipients graduate at a higher rate than non-Pell students here — unusual and worth investigating.
Program outcomes
Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.
Of 138 Title IV programs, 52 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 3 fail. 83 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.
Pass / fail distribution
- Passing52 · 37.7%
- No Data83 · 60.1%
- Failing3 · 2.2%
Severity spectrum
Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.
Earnings premium gap
Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.
Near the line (±5%)
Programs within five points of the pass line, one cohort year from flipping.
Debt vs earnings
Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.
Accreditation status & history
Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.
WASC Senior College and University Commission
Programmatic accreditations · 8
Action history · 13
- Sep 2025Probation or Equivalent or a More Severe Status: ProbationCouncil on Education for Public Health · Public Health Programs (PHPBG) - Baccalaureate and Graduate level programs offered outside a school of public health
- Jan 2025Grant Substantive Change: ProgramWASC Senior College and University Commission
- Jul 2023Renewal of AccreditationAcademy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics · Didactic Program in Dietetics
- Mar 2023Renewal of AccreditationCouncil on Education for Public Health · Public Health Programs (PHPBG) - Baccalaureate and Graduate level programs offered outside a school of public health
- Jul 2022Renewal of AccreditationAcademy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics · Didactic Program in Dietetics
Tuition & cost
What families actually pay, broken down by family income.
Net price by family income
Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.
Federal aid volume & trends
Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.
In AY 2024–25, 10,736 students received $63.6M in Pell grants, alongside $47.7M in federal Direct Loans.
Pell recipients · 5-year trend
Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25
Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.
Student loan default rate
The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.
Of 3,691 borrowers who entered repayment, 69 (1.8%) defaulted within three years — below the 2.3% national rate.
Default rate vs national, by cohort
* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.
Academic programs at CSUSB
Top program areas ranked by completions.
Top program families by completions
Enrollment trends & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Gender split
Race / ethnicity composition
Athletics & Title IX gender equity
How athletic participation, aid, and spending are split between men and women.
Men vs women · spending splits
Sport-by-sport · 8
Campus safety & crime statistics
Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.
3-year trend
Criminal offenses by type
By location
- On campus31
Includes 7 in residence halls (a subset of on-campus, not added to the total).
VAWA offenses
Hate crimes by bias
No hate crimes reported.
Arrests vs disciplinary referrals
Residence-hall fires
Student-faculty ratio
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
CSUSB vs Peer comparison
The peer institutions CSUSB selected for federal comparison reporting.
A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.
| Carnegie | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SubjectCalifornia State University-San Bernardino | 55% | — | 18,492 | $5,918 | R2 Research |
| 86% | 31.3% | 23,069 | $15,624 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 49% | 98.2% | 6,237 | $13,167 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 68% | 75.2% | 27,636 | $11,580 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 60% | 95.0% | 837 | $17,555 | Baccalaureate | |
| 50% | 93.9% | 10,419 | $5,825 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 51% | 94.8% | 5,592 | $9,792 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Small Programs | |
| 63% | 92.7% | 15,257 | $14,838 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 43% | 93.3% | 15,182 | $3,659 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 57% | 95.3% | 24,427 | $6,480 | R2 Research | |
| 70% | 90.5% | 43,662 | $5,646 | R2 Research | |
| 69% | 46.3% | 42,003 | $8,931 | R2 Research | |
| 53% | 91.3% | 23,163 | $4,113 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 59% | 97.4% | 7,713 | $14,487 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 57% | 93.4% | 38,313 | $7,599 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 56% | 94.0% | 31,943 | $10,512 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 55% | 95.1% | 16,237 | $10,550 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 53% | 98.1% | 9,724 | $5,671 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 31% | 98.8% | 18,453 | $14,294 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 55% | 90.3% | 21,039 | $16,025 | R2 Research | |
| 58% | 93.4% | 5,891 | $13,801 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 20% | — | 27,431 | $1,291 | Baccalaureate | |
| 89% | 26.6% | 53,864 | $19,678 | R1 Research | |
| 50% | 99.9% | 25,039 | $10,726 | R1 Research | |
| 76% | 76.4% | 26,384 | $13,707 | R1 Research | |
| 65% | 73.9% | 47,980 | $13,853 | R1 Research | |
| 54% | 95.2% | 23,124 | $17,478 | R1 Research | |
| Peer group median | 56% | 93.4% | 23,069 | $10,726 |
Institutions like CSUSB
Explore the federal data for institutions in CSUSB's comparison group.
- Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsCalifornia
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
Grad rate86%Admit rate31.3%Enrollment23,069Net price$15,624View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsCalifornia
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
Grad rate49%Admit rate98.2%Enrollment6,237Net price$13,167View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsCalifornia
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Grad rate68%Admit rate75.2%Enrollment27,636Net price$11,580View data - BaccalaureateCalifornia
California State University Maritime Academy
Grad rate60%Admit rate95.0%Enrollment837Net price$17,555View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsCalifornia
California State University-Bakersfield
Grad rate50%Admit rate93.9%Enrollment10,419Net price$5,825View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Small ProgramsCalifornia
California State University-Channel Islands
Grad rate51%Admit rate94.8%Enrollment5,592Net price$9,792View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsCalifornia
California State University-Chico
Grad rate63%Admit rate92.7%Enrollment15,257Net price$14,838View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsCalifornia
California State University-Dominguez Hills
Grad rate43%Admit rate93.3%Enrollment15,182Net price$3,659View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
California State University-Fresno
Grad rate57%Admit rate95.3%Enrollment24,427Net price$6,480View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
California State University-Fullerton
Grad rate70%Admit rate90.5%Enrollment43,662Net price$5,646View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
California State University-Long Beach
Grad rate69%Admit rate46.3%Enrollment42,003Net price$8,931View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsCalifornia
California State University-Los Angeles
Grad rate53%Admit rate91.3%Enrollment23,163Net price$4,113View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsCalifornia
California State University-Monterey Bay
Grad rate59%Admit rate97.4%Enrollment7,713Net price$14,487View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsCalifornia
California State University-Northridge
Grad rate57%Admit rate93.4%Enrollment38,313Net price$7,599View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsCalifornia
California State University-Sacramento
Grad rate56%Admit rate94.0%Enrollment31,943Net price$10,512View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsCalifornia
California State University-San Marcos
Grad rate55%Admit rate95.1%Enrollment16,237Net price$10,550View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsCalifornia
California State University-Stanislaus
Grad rate53%Admit rate98.1%Enrollment9,724Net price$5,671View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsColorado
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Grad rate31%Admit rate98.8%Enrollment18,453Net price$14,294View data - R2 ResearchTexas
Sam Houston State University
Grad rate55%Admit rate90.3%Enrollment21,039Net price$16,025View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsCalifornia
Sonoma State University
Grad rate58%Admit rate93.4%Enrollment5,891Net price$13,801View data - BaccalaureateTexas
South Texas College
Grad rate20%Admit rate—Enrollment27,431Net price$1,291View data - R1 ResearchTexas
The University of Texas at Austin
Grad rate89%Admit rate26.6%Enrollment53,864Net price$19,678View data - R1 ResearchTexas
The University of Texas at El Paso
Grad rate50%Admit rate99.9%Enrollment25,039Net price$10,726View data - R1 ResearchCalifornia
University of California-Riverside
Grad rate76%Admit rate76.4%Enrollment26,384Net price$13,707View data - R1 ResearchTexas
University of Houston
Grad rate65%Admit rate73.9%Enrollment47,980Net price$13,853View data - R1 ResearchNew Mexico
University of New Mexico-Main Campus
Grad rate54%Admit rate95.2%Enrollment23,124Net price$17,478View data
CSUSB Institutional Research office
The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.
The Office of Institutional Research & Analytics at CSUSB provides insights into the student demographics and success rates, including a student population of 19,049 as of Fall 2025. The office also offers various resources such as dashboards, statistical factbooks, and data request forms for internal and external data inquiries.
Visit IR office page- Llasmin LopezInstitutional Research Analyst
Common Data Set
CSUSB's own annual Common Data Set: the most detailed self-reported reference for selectivity, cost, outcomes, and the student body.
Selectivity & Admissions
Admissions funnel
C114,630 applied → 13,632 admitted (93.1%) → 2,090 enrolled.
Selectivity
C1Accessible — 93.1% acceptance rate.
Admit rate by gender
C1Admit rate varies by gender.
SAT range (middle 50%)
C9Middle 50% SAT 820–1010 (median 900).
ACT range (middle 50%)
C9Middle 50% ACT 13–13 (median 13).
High-school class rank
C10Share of enrolled first-years by HS class-rank band.
What matters in admission
C7Relative importance of each admission factor.
Affordability & Value
Cost of attendance
GTotal sticker cost of attendance is $26,237 (2025-2026).
Sticker vs. net price
G+HSticker $26,237 → about $14,040 net for aided students after the average need-based grant ($12,197); 60% of demonstrated need is met.
Where grant aid comes from
H128% of need-based grant dollars come from the institution itself.
Graduate debt
H4/H538% of graduates borrowed; those who did owed $17,834 on average.
Outcomes & Equity
Graduation & retention
B6-year graduation rate 55%; first-year retention 80%.
Equity: Pell graduation gap
B4Pell-grant recipients graduate 1 pts below the overall rate (54% vs 55%).
Academic Experience
Class-size distribution
I336% of classes have under 20 students; 11% have 50+.
Faculty profile
IKey faculty indicators.
Student Body & Diversity
Undergraduate race/ethnicity
B2Undergraduate enrollment by race/ethnicity.
International students
B21% of undergraduates are international (nonresident).
Undergrad vs graduate
B114,993 undergraduates and 2,907 graduate students.
Transfer Path
Transfer admissions
D17,011 transfer applicants → 5,973 admitted (85.0%) → 2,108 enrolled — more selective than first-year admission.
Source publications
Reports & documents (4)
Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.
- DFR reportIPEDS Data Feedback Report 20242024nces.ed.gov
- FactbookCalifornia State University-San Bernardino Statistical Factbook2026The CSUSB Statistical Factbook provides detailed statistical summaries and historical data on enrollment, degrees awarded, demographics by major and college. It includes trends in enrollment and full-time equivalent students (FTES), as well as retention and graduation rates and degrees conferred by major. The Factbook reflects changes in data reporting systems and the transition from quarter to semester systems, including unit equivalencies. Data is differentiated by California residents and non-residents, and new coding for ethnicity has been applied to comply with federal government mandates.csusb.edu
- GlossaryCalifornia State University, San Bernardino - Glossary of TermsThe California State University, San Bernardino Glossary of Terms provides definitions for various terms related to sponsored programs administration. These terms are crucial for understanding policies, processes, and responsibilities associated with handling federal and non-federal grants and contracts. Key topics include regulations, allowability and allocability of costs, audit processes, cost sharing, types of costs such as direct and indirect, roles such as Principal Investigator, and various forms of financial support like grants and gifts.csusb.edu
- Strategic planStrategic Plan 2023-20282023California State University, San Bernardino’s strategic plan titled 'We Define the Future: Transforming Lives and Communities' outlines priorities for the period of 2023-2028, focusing on innovation and systemic efficiency. The plan aims to embed diversity, equity, and inclusion into all campus operations and activities for the university and the Palm Desert campus. Through this strategic framework, CSUSB reaffirms its dedication to transforming lives and nurturing vibrant communities.csusb.edu
Notable alumni of CSUSB (28)
A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.
- Anthony AdamsPolitics
- Rusty BaileyPolitics
- Laura BeemanAthletics
- Danny BilsonEntertainment
- Cheryl BrownPolitics
- Wilmer CarterPolitics
- Paul ChabotPolitics
- Paul CookPolitics
- Corey GrayScience
- Eddie CornejoAthletics
- R. Carey DavisPolitics
- Paul De MeoEntertainment
Frequently asked questions about California State University-San Bernardino
Quick answers to the questions most often asked about CSUSB.
What is the graduation rate at California State University-San Bernardino?
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Who runs Institutional Research at California State University-San Bernardino?
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