CSUB Housing Costs

$3,782 Other Living Expenses Typical Cost

What Are the Living Expenses at CSUB?

Room, board, and other expenses can add up to a significant amount. How much does this school charge for these necessities at California State University-Bakersfield.

On this page you will find:

Outline of Housing Costs
Room & Board Trends and Total Expenses
Meal Plans and Housing Requirements
References

Living Expenses at CSUB

Housing and meal plans are priced out separately here. The standard student paid $9,360 in 2026, and the cost of a typical dining plan was $5,760. Altogether, the average on-campus student at California State University-Bakersfield faced a yearly bill of about $23,514 in 2026 for room, board, books and other living costs combined.

Discover housing costs for both on-campus and off-campus, as well as meals and other expenses at California State University-Bakersfield.

Expense	On Campus	Off Campus
Room and Board	$18,778	$24,388
— Housing	$9,360
— Meals	$5,760
Other Living Expenses	$3,782	$6,424
Books and Supplies	$954	$954
Total	$23,514	$31,766

Will You Spend Four Years On Campus? Projected Four-Year Total: $105,405

Like tuition, room and board usually rises a little each year. Projecting the trend helps you plan for all four years instead of only the first.

The projected four-year total comes to about $105,405 for living costs.

Here is how combined on-campus room and board has moved over the last few reported years, with a projection of where it is headed, at California State University-Bakersfield.

Year	Room & Board
Three Years Ago	$16,032
Two Years Ago	$17,430
One Year Ago	$18,212
Most Recent Year (2026)	$18,778
One Year From Now *	$19,850
Two Years From Now *	$20,983
Three Years From Now *	$22,181
Four Years From Now *	$23,447

* estimated

Over the reported period, on-campus housing and dining changed about 5.7% a year over the last three years. Carrying that rate forward one year puts on-campus living costs near $24,586 for their first year on campus.

Projected forward, the last year of a four-year degree runs about $28,183 for a bachelor’s program; a two-year student would see about $25,719 in the final year of a two-year (associate) degree.

Across all four years, on-campus living costs would total approximately $105,405 over four years — compared with roughly $50,305 for two years on campus.