Rolling admission, no hard cutoff. Students who apply by the December 1 priority date get an early decision and become “Lancer Select” members: early housing access and a faster financial aid offer, as long as the FAFSA lists CBU’s school code 001125.
CBU uses its own application. It’s a 250 to 650 word essay, a $45 fee and official transcripts. Letters of recommendation are no longer required.
Merit is set by weighted GPA alone, and it’s guaranteed. If your student is admitted and their GPA lands in a band, the award follows. Nobody competes for it.
December 1 is an admissions date, not a scholarship deadline. The date that moves real money is March 2, the Cal Grant deadline for California residents.
Weighted GPA 2.95+ (freshmen); 2.5+ college GPA (transfers)
Entry-level benchmarks for automatic merit.
Testing Policy
Test-blind (scores not used)
No superscore.
Key Deadlines
Priority: TBD • FAFSA: Mar 2
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA Only
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at California Baptist University (Read This First)
Test scores won’t earn a dime here. CBU is test-blind for admission and merit. Scores are only used for English and math placement, so don’t pay for a retake to chase CBU money.
The GPA bands have hard edges. A 3.29 weighted GPA earns $14,000 a year. A 3.30 earns $16,000. That one hundredth of a point is worth $8,000 over four years, so ask your counselor exactly how CBU will calculate your student’s weighted GPA.
The $10,000 “CBU Promise” is a floor, not a bonus. If your student earns any merit tier, that award replaces the Promise. It doesn’t add to it.
CBU’s need-based help is thin. According to CBU’s 2025-26 Common Data Set, first-year students with financial need had about 32% of that need met on average. Run the net price calculator before you fall in love.
Some majors cost more every semester. Nursing adds $2,075 per semester, architecture $1,500 and engineering $1,215, all on top of tuition. Flight training lab fees run into five figures per course.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. California Baptist University is test-optional for admission.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: N/A; SAT: 860-1150.
Average net price? About $27,862/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
No. It is a private school, so everyone pays the same rate.
💰 Cost of Attendance at California Baptist University: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in October 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest California Baptist University has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.
Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly $1,200 to $2,900 more than the total below.
✔ Same price for every student, no matter which state you live in.
All students: billed cost per year
$57,942
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$44,724
Housing & meals (typical)
$13,218
Total billed cost
$57,942
Average federal net price: $27,862 per year.
This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
No Out-of-State Premium
CBU is private, so a family in Texas pays the same tuition as a family in Riverside. The catch is that the Cal Grant and the CBU Cal B Assistance only go to California residents, so out-of-state families should expect merit to be the main discount.
💡 Program Fees the Table Doesn’t Show (2026-2027)
Some majors carry a fee every fall and spring semester, on top of tuition. If your student is headed into one of these, add it to your budget now.
Major
Per Semester
Per Year
Nursing (undergraduate)
$2,075
$4,150
Architecture
$1,500
$3,000
Engineering, Computer Science Engineering, Construction Management, Data Science
$1,215
$2,430
Film
$500
$1,000
Nutrition and Food Science
$435
$870
Commercial Music / Music
$325 / $200
$650 / $400
Aviation (flight) students, read this twice: flight training is billed as course lab fees. For example, Private Flight I and II together run $23,482, and Commercial Flight I alone is $23,356. Ask CBU’s aviation department for a full degree cost estimate before committing.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at California Baptist University
Does CBU charge more for out-of-state students?
No. As a private university, CBU charges everyone the same tuition. The difference shows up in aid: California residents can add the Cal Grant (and CBU’s Cal B Assistance in year one), while out-of-state families rely mostly on merit.
What does a year at CBU cost before aid?
For 2026-2027, tuition and required first-year fees are $44,724, and shared housing with the freshman meal plan is $13,218, for $57,942 in direct costs. CBU also estimates about $1,305 for books, $1,386 for transportation and $3,969 for personal expenses for students living on campus.
Why does CBU’s cost page show different numbers?
As of fall 2026, CBU’s main Cost of Attendance page still showed 2025-2026 figures. CBU’s undergraduate financial aid page, its 2026-2027 tuition and fee schedule, and its Common Data Set all show the newer numbers we use here.
What do families actually pay?
The most recent federal average net price is about $27,862 a year after grants and scholarships. That’s an average, so a family with high need and a high GPA can pay much less, and a family with no need and a lower GPA will pay more.
Does CBU meet full financial need?
Rarely. CBU’s 2025-26 Common Data Set shows first-year students with need had about 32% of it met on average, and only 162 of 1,259 first-years with need had it fully covered. Most families close the gap with merit, the Cal Grant, federal loans, Parent PLUS loans or CBU’s payment plan.
Does tuition change if my student takes extra units?
The flat rate covers 13 to 18 units per semester. Units beyond that are billed at $1,626 each, so plan the schedule carefully for majors with heavy course loads.
October 1: The FAFSA opens. File it early and add CBU’s school code 001125.
December 1: Admissions priority date. Merit is rolling, but an early admit means an earlier, faster aid offer.
March 2: Cal Grant deadline for California residents (FAFSA or CA Dream Act plus a verified GPA).
June 15: Priority date for any FAFSA verification paperwork CBU requests.
Each spring after starting: Donor scholarship window for continuing students (February 1 to late April in 2026).
Parent rule of thumb: merit at CBU takes care of itself once your student is admitted. The deadlines that cost families money are the FAFSA and March 2.
Automatic Merit Scholarships at California Baptist University
CBU’s merit is about as simple as it gets. Freshmen are placed by cumulative weighted high school GPA, transfers by college GPA, and the award is guaranteed at admission with no separate application. Test scores play no role. Every incoming student also gets at least $10,000 through the CBU Promise, even below the lowest GPA band.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
Start with your state. The awards in this first group come from the state, not the college. They are decided by residency and the FAFSA, and they stack on top of whatever automatic merit award the college gives below. If you live out of state, use the toggle above and these will step aside.
State AidAutomaticstate residencyneed based
Cal Grant A
📅 Deadline: FAFSA or CADAA plus GPA verification by March 2 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$9,358/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPACalifornia resident or AB 540 student; 3.0 high school GPA (or 2.4 college GPA); 2026-27 income ceiling $144,700 for a family of four, assets under $111,900; FAFSA or CADAA and a verified GPA by March 2; within one year of high school graduation for the entitlement award
✚
Stacking & Combining
$9,358 a year toward tuition at a private nonprofit California college in 2026-27. Stacks with the college's own aid and with Pell. Guaranteed for every senior who meets the GPA, income, and deadline.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a California Baptist University award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent CA page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Every California senior with a 3.0 whose family is under the ceiling and whose school sent the GPA to CSAC by March 2. The miss is almost always the GPA verification, which the high school must submit separately; a student with a perfect FAFSA and no verified GPA gets nothing.
State AidAutomaticstate residencyneed based
Cal Grant B
📅 Deadline: FAFSA or CADAA plus GPA verification by March 2 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 2.0+ GPACalifornia resident or AB 540 student; 2.0 GPA; 2026-27 income ceiling $76,100 for a family of four, assets under $111,900; FAFSA or CADAA and a verified GPA by March 2
✚
Stacking & Combining
For lower-income families. Year one is a $1,648 access award for books and living costs; from year two it adds the full Cal Grant A tuition amount for your school on top of the access award. Students with dependent children or a foster care history can get up to $6,000 in access money. Stacks with Pell and college aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a California Baptist University award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent CA page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Low-income seniors with at least a 2.0 who filed by March 2. The first-year letter looks small because tuition does not kick in until sophomore year; families sometimes decline a school over that without realizing year two is worth ten times more.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
The four freshman merit awards (Trustees, Presidents, Deans and Directors) are mutually exclusive, so your student receives the one tier their GPA places them in. Any of them replaces the CBU Promise or Preferred District floor rather than adding to it. Merit sits alongside federal aid like the Pell Grant and FSEOG and California aid like the Cal Grant. CBU coordinates its need-based CBU Grant with all other aid, so that grant can be reduced when other money arrives.
💡
Strategic Detail
The top rung of CBU's freshman merit grid: $18,000 a year for a cumulative weighted high school GPA of 4.0 or higher. It is guaranteed at admission with no essay, audition or test score, and it renews each year as long as your student keeps at least a 2.0 GPA. Amounts listed are for students starting at CBU in Fall 2026, so check CBU's scholarship page for the grid that applies to your entry term.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: First-time freshmen (fewer than 24 transferable college units) with a cumulative weighted high school GPA of 4.0 or higher. CBU does not use test scores for admission or merit, so the transcript carries the whole decision.
The four freshman merit awards (Trustees, Presidents, Deans and Directors) are mutually exclusive, so your student receives the one tier their GPA places them in. Any of them replaces the CBU Promise or Preferred District floor rather than adding to it. Merit sits alongside federal aid like the Pell Grant and FSEOG and California aid like the Cal Grant. CBU coordinates its need-based CBU Grant with all other aid, so that grant can be reduced when other money arrives.
💡
Strategic Detail
$17,000 a year for a cumulative weighted high school GPA of 3.90 to 3.99. It is guaranteed at admission with no separate application and renews each year with a 2.0 GPA. Amounts listed are for students starting at CBU in Fall 2026.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: First-time freshmen with a cumulative weighted high school GPA between 3.90 and 3.99. No test scores are used.
The four freshman merit awards (Trustees, Presidents, Deans and Directors) are mutually exclusive, so your student receives the one tier their GPA places them in. Any of them replaces the CBU Promise or Preferred District floor rather than adding to it. Merit sits alongside federal aid like the Pell Grant and FSEOG and California aid like the Cal Grant. CBU coordinates its need-based CBU Grant with all other aid, so that grant can be reduced when other money arrives.
💡
Strategic Detail
$16,000 a year for a cumulative weighted high school GPA of 3.30 to 3.89, the widest band on CBU's freshman grid. It is guaranteed at admission with no separate application and renews each year with a 2.0 GPA. Amounts listed are for students starting at CBU in Fall 2026.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: First-time freshmen with a cumulative weighted high school GPA between 3.30 and 3.89. No test scores are used.
The four freshman merit awards (Trustees, Presidents, Deans and Directors) are mutually exclusive, so your student receives the one tier their GPA places them in. Any of them replaces the CBU Promise or Preferred District floor rather than adding to it. Merit sits alongside federal aid like the Pell Grant and FSEOG and California aid like the Cal Grant. CBU coordinates its need-based CBU Grant with all other aid, so that grant can be reduced when other money arrives.
💡
Strategic Detail
$14,000 a year for a cumulative weighted high school GPA of 2.95 to 3.29. Watch the top edge: a 3.29 earns this award, while a 3.30 moves up to the $16,000 Deans Scholarship. Guaranteed at admission and renewable each year with a 2.0 GPA. Amounts listed are for students starting at CBU in Fall 2026.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: First-time freshmen with a cumulative weighted high school GPA between 2.95 and 3.29. No test scores are used.
Automatic
Preferred District Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Rolling; tied to general freshman admission deadlines. ✓ Renews
$12,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Does not stack with other CBU institutional aid. Any higher CBU award replaces it. Federal and California aid such as Pell, FSEOG and the Cal Grant can still be added.
💡
Strategic Detail
A guaranteed floor of $12,000 in CBU gift aid for incoming students who graduate from a CBU preferred district high school and enroll in the main campus undergraduate program. CBU does not publish the list of preferred districts, so ask your admissions counselor whether your high school qualifies. It is a minimum, not a bonus: if your student's GPA earns a bigger merit award, that award replaces this one. CBU's pages do not spell out renewal terms, so confirm with financial aid.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Incoming freshmen from a preferred district high school. It matters most for students whose weighted GPA falls below the 2.95 Directors cutoff, since every freshman merit tier pays more than $12,000.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
CBU Promise
📅 Deadline: Rolling; tied to general undergraduate admission deadlines. ✓ Renews
$10,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Does not stack with other CBU institutional aid. It is a minimum, and any higher CBU award (Trustees, Presidents, Deans, Directors or a transfer tier) replaces it. Federal and California aid such as Pell, FSEOG and the Cal Grant can still be added.
💡
Strategic Detail
New for students starting in Fall 2026: every incoming student is guaranteed at least $10,000 in CBU gift aid. Think of it as the safety net under the merit grid. It matters for freshmen below the 2.95 Directors cutoff and transfers below the 2.5 Transfer Bronze cutoff. If your student qualifies for any merit tier, that award replaces the Promise. CBU's pages do not spell out renewal terms, so confirm with financial aid. Institutional aid is generally not available for online or graduate programs.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Any incoming student in CBU's traditional main campus undergraduate program, starting Fall 2026 or later, who does not qualify for a larger CBU award.
Automatic⚠ Transfer Only
Transfer Platinum Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Rolling; follows general transfer admission deadlines. ✓ Renews
$15,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.8+ GPA🎓 Transfer
✚
Stacking & Combining
The four transfer awards (Platinum, Gold, Blue and Bronze) are mutually exclusive, so your student receives the one tier their college GPA places them in. Any of them replaces the CBU Promise floor. Merit sits alongside federal aid like Pell and FSEOG and California aid like the Cal Grant. CBU coordinates its need-based CBU Grant with all other aid, so that grant can be reduced when other money arrives.
💡
Strategic Detail
The top tier of CBU's transfer merit grid: $15,000 a year for transfers with a cumulative college GPA of 3.75 or higher and at least 24 transferable units. Awarded automatically at admission with no separate application. CBU says it renews as long as a minimum GPA is maintained but does not publish the number for transfers, so ask your admissions counselor. Amounts listed are for students starting at CBU in Fall 2026.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Incoming transfers with 24 or more units from a regionally accredited college and a cumulative college GPA of 3.75 or higher. The transfer grid runs on college GPA alone.
Automatic⚠ Transfer Only
Transfer Gold Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Rolling; follows general transfer admission deadlines. ✓ Renews
$14,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.5+ GPA🎓 Transfer
✚
Stacking & Combining
The four transfer awards (Platinum, Gold, Blue and Bronze) are mutually exclusive, so your student receives the one tier their college GPA places them in. Any of them replaces the CBU Promise floor. Merit sits alongside federal aid like Pell and FSEOG and California aid like the Cal Grant. CBU coordinates its need-based CBU Grant with all other aid, so that grant can be reduced when other money arrives.
💡
Strategic Detail
$14,000 a year for transfers with a cumulative college GPA of 3.50 to 3.74 and at least 24 transferable units. Awarded automatically at admission. CBU says it renews with a minimum GPA but does not publish the number for transfers, so ask. Amounts listed are for students starting at CBU in Fall 2026.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Incoming transfers with 24 or more transferable units and a cumulative college GPA between 3.50 and 3.74.
Automatic⚠ Transfer Only
Transfer Blue Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Rolling; follows general transfer admission deadlines. ✓ Renews
$13,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA🎓 Transfer
✚
Stacking & Combining
The four transfer awards (Platinum, Gold, Blue and Bronze) are mutually exclusive, so your student receives the one tier their college GPA places them in. Any of them replaces the CBU Promise floor. Merit sits alongside federal aid like Pell and FSEOG and California aid like the Cal Grant. CBU coordinates its need-based CBU Grant with all other aid, so that grant can be reduced when other money arrives.
💡
Strategic Detail
$13,000 a year for transfers with a cumulative college GPA of 3.00 to 3.49 and at least 24 transferable units. Awarded automatically at admission. CBU says it renews with a minimum GPA but does not publish the number for transfers, so ask. Amounts listed are for students starting at CBU in Fall 2026.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Incoming transfers with 24 or more transferable units and a cumulative college GPA between 3.00 and 3.49.
Automatic⚠ Transfer Only
Transfer Bronze Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Rolling; follows general transfer admission deadlines. ✓ Renews
$11,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 2.5+ GPA🎓 Transfer
✚
Stacking & Combining
The four transfer awards (Platinum, Gold, Blue and Bronze) are mutually exclusive, so your student receives the one tier their college GPA places them in. Any of them replaces the CBU Promise floor. Merit sits alongside federal aid like Pell and FSEOG and California aid like the Cal Grant. CBU coordinates its need-based CBU Grant with all other aid, so that grant can be reduced when other money arrives.
💡
Strategic Detail
$11,000 a year for transfers with a cumulative college GPA of 2.50 to 2.99 and at least 24 transferable units. Awarded automatically at admission. CBU says it renews with a minimum GPA but does not publish the number for transfers, so ask. Amounts listed are for students starting at CBU in Fall 2026.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Incoming transfers with 24 or more transferable units and a cumulative college GPA between 2.50 and 2.99. Below 2.50, the $10,000 CBU Promise floor still applies.
Data last verified Oct 6, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
What Each Freshman Tier Is Worth Over Four Years
Award
Weighted GPA
Per Year
Four Years
Trustees
4.0 and above
$18,000
$72,000
Presidents
3.90 to 3.99
$17,000
$68,000
Deans
3.30 to 3.89
$16,000
$64,000
Directors
2.95 to 3.29
$14,000
$56,000
CBU Promise (floor)
Below 2.95
$10,000
Confirm renewal
Note: These amounts are for students starting at CBU in Fall 2026, which is what CBU had posted as of October 2026. Check CBU’s scholarship page for the grid that applies to your student’s entry term. Awards do not stack. Your student receives the single award their GPA earns.
What GPA does my student need for the Trustees Scholarship?
A cumulative weighted high school GPA of 4.0 or higher. That earns $18,000 a year, guaranteed at admission, and it renews with a 2.0 college GPA.
Will a strong SAT or ACT score bump my student into a higher tier?
No. CBU does not use test scores for admission or merit. Scores can be sent for English and math placement only.
What is the CBU Promise?
A guarantee that every incoming student starting Fall 2026 or later gets at least $10,000 in CBU gift aid. It’s a safety net, not an extra award. If your student earns Directors or higher, the merit award replaces the Promise.
What is the Preferred District Scholarship?
Students graduating from certain partner high schools are guaranteed at least $12,000 in CBU gift aid. CBU doesn’t publish the list, so ask your admissions counselor. Since every freshman merit tier pays $14,000 or more, it mainly helps students below the 2.95 cutoff.
Can my student receive the Deans Scholarship and the CBU Promise together?
No. CBU awards the higher of the two. The same goes for the Preferred District floor.
How do transfer scholarships work?
Students with 24 or more transferable units are placed by college GPA: Platinum ($15,000, 3.75+), Gold ($14,000, 3.50 to 3.74), Blue ($13,000, 3.00 to 3.49) and Bronze ($11,000, 2.50 to 2.99). They’re automatic at admission. CBU says they renew with a minimum GPA but doesn’t publish the number, so ask.
Are freshman awards renewable?
Yes. Freshman merit renews each year as long as your student keeps at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA.
California Baptist University does not publish a competitive, essay-and-interview scholarship program like the full-tuition contests some private schools run. Its big money is the automatic GPA grid. The extra dollars come from talent, major and family-based awards (covered in Hidden Gems) and from Division I athletics.
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at CBU?
Aid Type
Stacks with Merit?
CBU Parent Translation
Freshman or Transfer Merit
One only
Your student gets the single tier their GPA earns.
CBU Promise / Preferred District
No (replaced)
These are minimums. A bigger merit award takes their place.
Pell, FSEOG, Cal Grant, Cal B Assistance
Yes
Federal and state grants layer on top of merit. This is where California families gain the most.
CBU Grant (need-based)
Adjusts
CBU coordinates it with all other aid, so it can shrink or disappear when other money arrives.
Department, Talent and Family Awards
Ask
CBU doesn’t publish a rule. Get the answer in writing before you count on it.
Preferred Partnership (20% employer discount)
No
CBU says it can’t be combined with other institutional aid.
🏅 Athletics: The Closest Thing to a Competitive Scholarship
CBU competes in NCAA Division I and officially joined the Big West Conference on July 1, 2026. Athletic aid is real money here. CBU’s 2025-26 Common Data Set shows 123 first-year students received athletic scholarships, averaging $20,933 each. Those offers come through coaches, not the financial aid office, so a recruited athlete should talk to the coach early and ask how athletic aid combines with the GPA award.
This institution does not offer designated Competitive scholarships at this time.
❓ Competitive Scholarship FAQs
Does CBU offer full-tuition or full-ride academic scholarships?
Not on its published scholarship pages. The largest guaranteed academic award is the $18,000 Trustees Scholarship. Bigger packages usually come from stacking merit with Pell and the Cal Grant, or from athletics.
Is there a scholarship competition day or interview weekend?
No. CBU’s merit is automatic. The only “competition” is for talent awards like music auditions, speech and debate, theatre and athletics.
Can my student combine merit with the Cal Grant and Pell Grant?
Yes. Federal and state grants sit on top of CBU merit. The one CBU award that can shift is the need-based CBU Grant, which is coordinated with everything else.
Does CBU offer a National Merit scholarship?
CBU does not list a National Merit Finalist package. A Finalist would still qualify for the GPA-based grid, and any outside National Merit money would come from the sponsor.
My employer is a CBU partner. Does the 20% discount help my high schooler?
No. The Preferred Partnership discount is for the employee’s own enrollment, and it can’t be combined with other CBU aid.
CBU’s extra money isn’t in one portal. It’s spread across offices, and most of it only shows up if you ask.
Financial aid: If you’re a California family, file the FAFSA and confirm your GPA reaches the state by March 2. That’s what unlocks the Cal Grant and CBU’s Cal B Assistance.
Your student’s department: Engineering, Communication Arts, Theatre, Music and Architecture all list their own scholarships. Email them directly.
Admissions: Ask about the Preferred District list, the Minister’s Kin Scholarship and the Multiple Sibling Scholarship. None of these show up unless you raise them.
Parent translation: the GPA award is automatic, but everything in this section is “ask and you shall receive.” After freshman year, add a fourth door: the spring donor scholarship application.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These awards aren’t automatic, and several are tied to a major, a talent or your family situation. CBU doesn’t publish stacking rules for most of them, so ask the financial aid office how each one fits with your student’s merit award.
Automatic
CBU Cal B Assistance
📅 Deadline: Tied to the Cal Grant: file the FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application and make sure your GPA reaches CSAC by March 2. Non-Renewable
$7,710/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ California residents with a first-year Cal Grant B award
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Designed to sit on top of merit, Pell and other aid. First year only; from year two, Cal Grant B itself pays more (CBU's financial aid office lists $11,006 per year).
💡
Strategic Detail
In the first year, Cal Grant B pays only a small Access award ($1,648). CBU tops it up with $7,710, so a qualifying freshman gets $9,358, the same as a Cal Grant A student. It applies only to students receiving just the Access portion in their first year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: California residents who qualify for Cal Grant B as freshmen, based on the income and GPA rules set by the California Student Aid Commission.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Engineering Scholarships
📅 Deadline: No published deadline; email coescholarships@calbaptist.edu for current timing. ✓ Renews
$500–$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
CBU does not publish a stacking rule for departmental awards. Ask the financial aid office how the award interacts with your merit tier before counting on it.
📄
How to Apply
Email coescholarships@calbaptist.edu for current criteria and forms.
Selection criteria: Departmental review with emphasis on engineering major status and academic standing; specific criteria set by the College of Engineering.
💡
Strategic Detail
$500 to $5,000 a year through the Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering. Worth chasing, since engineering majors also pay a $1,215 per semester program fee on top of tuition.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Engineering majors in the Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering who complete the college's scholarship process.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Music Performance Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Auditions can be arranged throughout the year; contact the School of Performing Arts at (951) 343-4251. ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
CBU does not publish a stacking rule for music awards. Ask the financial aid office how the award interacts with your merit tier before counting on it.
📄
How to Apply
Contact the School of Performing Arts at (951) 343-4251 to schedule an audition, and prepare a selection that shows range and ability.
Selection criteria: Evaluated primarily on audition quality, musical ability, and program needs.
💡
Strategic Detail
Audition-based awards for vocalists, instrumentalists and pianists. All styles are accepted, and instrumentalists are asked to sight-read. CBU does not publish award amounts.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with strong vocal, instrumental, or piano performance skills who complete required auditions and enroll in designated music ensembles or programs.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Communication Arts Scholarship
📅 Deadline: No published deadline; contact communicationarts@calbaptist.edu or (951) 343-4964. Non-Renewable
$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
CBU does not publish a stacking rule for departmental awards. Ask the financial aid office how it interacts with your merit tier before counting on it.
📄
How to Apply
Email communicationarts@calbaptist.edu or call (951) 343-4964 to ask about criteria and timing.
💡
Strategic Detail
Up to $2,000 a year for majors and minors in Communication Studies, Digital Media Communication, Journalism and Public Relations. CBU lists it as an annual amount; ask the department whether it continues automatically or must be re-earned.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students majoring or minoring in one of the four Communication Arts programs.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Speech and Debate Scholarship
📅 Deadline: No published deadline; contact communicationarts@calbaptist.edu or (951) 343-4964. Non-Renewable
$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
CBU does not publish a stacking rule for departmental awards. Ask the financial aid office how it interacts with your merit tier before counting on it.
📄
How to Apply
Contact the Department of Communication Arts at communicationarts@calbaptist.edu or (951) 343-4964 about joining the team and the scholarship.
💡
Strategic Detail
Up to $2,000 a year for students on CBU's Speech and Debate team. Any major can compete. Ask whether the award continues each year you stay on the team.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who compete on the CBU Speech and Debate team. High school forensics experience helps.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Broadcast and Digital Media Production Scholarship
📅 Deadline: No published deadline; contact communicationarts@calbaptist.edu or (951) 343-4964. Non-Renewable
$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
CBU does not publish a stacking rule for departmental awards. Ask the financial aid office how it interacts with your merit tier before counting on it.
📄
How to Apply
Contact the Department of Communication Arts at communicationarts@calbaptist.edu or (951) 343-4964.
💡
Strategic Detail
Up to $2,000 a year for students who work on CBU student media productions: CBU TV, Lancers Noticias and Lancer Sports.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who work on CBU TV, Lancers Noticias or Lancer Sports broadcasts.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Theatre Arts Scholarship
📅 Deadline: No published deadline; contact theatrearts@calbaptist.edu or (951) 343-4319. Non-Renewable
$1,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
CBU does not publish a stacking rule for departmental awards. Ask the financial aid office how it interacts with your merit tier before counting on it.
📄
How to Apply
Contact Theatre Arts at theatrearts@calbaptist.edu or (951) 343-4319 and ask about both the Theatre Arts and Drama scholarships.
💡
Strategic Detail
Up to $1,000 a year for students in department productions, as actors or crew. CBU also lists separate Drama Scholarships, with no published amount, for participation in productions, the drama ministry or Team CELEBRATION.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who act in or crew CBU theatre productions. Crew counts, so technical theatre students qualify too.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
College of Architecture, Visual Arts and Design Scholarships
📅 Deadline: No published deadline; incoming students contact admissions@calbaptist.edu, continuing students contact rlopez@calbaptist.edu. Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
CBU does not publish a stacking rule for departmental awards. Ask the financial aid office how it interacts with your merit tier before counting on it.
📄
How to Apply
Incoming freshmen and transfers: email admissions@calbaptist.edu. Continuing students: contact Rene Lopez, Director of Academic Operations, at rlopez@calbaptist.edu or (951) 552-8910.
💡
Strategic Detail
Scholarships for students in CBU's College of Architecture, Visual Arts and Design. CBU does not publish amounts. Worth asking about early, since architecture carries a $1,500 per semester program fee.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Incoming freshmen, transfers and continuing students in architecture, design and visual arts programs.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
School of Christian Ministries Double Major Scholarship
📅 Deadline: No published deadline; contact maturner@calbaptist.edu or (951) 343-4248. Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Requires a declared double major
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
CBU does not publish a stacking rule for departmental awards. Ask the financial aid office how it interacts with your merit tier before counting on it.
📄
How to Apply
Declare the double major, then contact the School of Christian Ministries at maturner@calbaptist.edu or (951) 343-4248.
💡
Strategic Detail
For students who declare a double major pairing a School of Christian Ministries program with any other program. CBU does not publish an amount.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who formally declare a Christian Ministries major alongside another major, for example nursing plus Christian Studies.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Minister's Kin Scholarship
📅 Deadline: No published deadline; contact CBU Admissions at (877) 228-8866 during the admission process. ✓ Renews
$3,250/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
CBU does not publish a stacking rule for this award. Ask the financial aid office how it interacts with your merit tier before counting on it.
📄
How to Apply
Ask your admissions counselor or call (877) 228-8866, and be ready to document the parent's full-time ministry role.
Selection criteria: Eligibility-based; focuses on verified ministry relationship rather than GPA or test scores.
💡
Strategic Detail
$3,250 a year for dependent children of evangelical ministers serving full time as pastors, chaplains or missionaries. It is handled by the Admissions Office, not the donor scholarship portal.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Dependent undergraduate children of evangelical ministers serving full time as pastors, chaplains, missionaries, or in similar ministry roles.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Multiple Sibling Scholarship
📅 Deadline: No published deadline; contact CBU Admissions at (877) 228-8866 once both siblings are enrolling. ✓ Renews
$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
CBU does not publish a stacking rule for this award. Ask the financial aid office how it interacts with your merit tier before counting on it.
📄
How to Apply
Contact CBU Admissions at (877) 228-8866 to request it once both students are enrolled full time. FAFSA dependency status is used to confirm eligibility.
Selection criteria: Eligibility-based; awarded when dependency and concurrent full-time enrollment of siblings are confirmed.
💡
Strategic Detail
$2,000 a year for families with two or more dependent students attending CBU's traditional undergraduate program full time at the same time. Siblings must be dependents according to the FAFSA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Families with two or more dependent siblings enrolled full time in CBU’s traditional undergraduate program at the same time.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
CBU Donor Scholarships (Continuing Students)
📅 Deadline: Annual window; for 2026-27 it ran February 1 to April 26, 2026 through Scholarship Universe. Expect a similar spring window each year. Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Continuing CBU students only
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
CBU does not publish a stacking rule for donor awards. Ask the financial aid office how they interact with your merit tier.
📄
How to Apply
Log in at calbaptist.scholarshipuniverse.com with your InsideCBU credentials, answer the matching questions, and complete every donor application you match before the spring deadline. Awards are announced by Lancermail in July and August.
💡
Strategic Detail
Donor and alumni funded scholarships for students already at CBU. One application in Scholarship Universe matches students to every donor award they qualify for. CBU's pages differ on eligibility (one semester completed vs one full year), so check with the scholarship office. Recipients must reapply every year. Filing the FAFSA is strongly recommended because many awards consider need.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Continuing CBU undergraduates who complete the full application during the spring window. Incomplete applications are not considered.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Preferred Partnership Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Pay stub must be submitted before the last day to add a class in the first term; no retroactive discounts. ✓ Renews
Varies
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Employees of CBU partner employers only
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Cannot be combined with other CBU institutional scholarships or grants.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to CBU, confirm your employer is on the partner list, and submit a current pay stub to your admissions counselor before the last day to add a class in your first term.
Selection criteria: Eligibility-based; determined by partner-employer status rather than academic or need criteria.
💡
Strategic Detail
A 20 percent tuition reduction for people who work for one of CBU's partner employers, mostly Inland Empire school districts, cities, hospitals and water agencies. It covers tuition only, not fees. It is built for working adults going back to school, not for a high school senior whose parent works at a partner employer.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Current employees of a CBU preferred partner employer who are admitted to an eligible program. Employment is verified with a current pay stub.
Data last verified Oct 6, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Hidden Gems FAQ
What is the CBU Cal B Assistance?
In year one, Cal Grant B pays only a small $1,648 Access award. CBU adds $7,710 on top, so a qualifying freshman gets $9,358, the same as a Cal Grant A student. It’s one of the most valuable awards on this page for lower-income California families.
Are there scholarships tied to my student’s major?
Yes. Engineering lists $500 to $5,000 a year. Communication Arts, Speech and Debate, and Broadcast and Digital Media list up to $2,000 each. Theatre Arts lists up to $1,000. Architecture and design, music and Christian Ministries double majors have awards with amounts that aren’t published.
We’ll have two kids at CBU at the same time. Is there a discount?
Yes. The Multiple Sibling Scholarship is $2,000 a year for families with two or more dependent students attending full time at the same time. Call Admissions at (877) 228-8866.
My spouse is a pastor. Does that help?
It can. The Minister’s Kin Scholarship pays $3,250 a year to dependent children of evangelical ministers serving full time as pastors, chaplains or missionaries. Ask your admissions counselor.
When can my student apply for donor scholarships?
Once they’re a continuing CBU student. CBU’s pages differ on whether that means one semester or one full year, so check. For 2026-2027, the window ran February 1 to April 26 through Scholarship Universe, and students must reapply every year.
CBU has an Honors Program, not a separate honors college. It’s a cohort of students from every major who take ten discussion-based seminars together on big questions like justice, virtue, science and human nature. Students apply separately after being admitted to CBU.
Typical admit: High school GPA of 3.5 or higher, though CBU will consider promising students with a 3.0 or higher.
Application: A short form plus two essays of 500 to 800 words each, on what makes something “good” and what makes someone “wise.”
Deadline: None official. Applications are reviewed in rounds, and spots fill as space allows.
When You’ll Hear Back
Application Submitted
Decision By
By December 31
January 15
January 1 to February 28
March 15
March 1 to April 30
May 15
May 1 to June 30
July 15
After July 1
September 1
Honors Scholarships
This institution does not offer designated Honors College scholarships at this time.
Straight talk on money: CBU says honors-only scholarships are “launching in the near future,” but none were listed as of October 2026. Right now, the payoff is academic, not financial. Your student’s GPA award is the same whether or not they join Honors.
What Honors Students Actually Get
No extra time to graduate: The seminars cover 27 units of general education requirements.
A free minor: Finishing all 30 Honors units also completes a philosophy minor.
Early access: Honors students can take upper-division courses in the second semester of freshman year.
A transcript notation: Plus honors events, trips and talks along the way.
Honors Program FAQs (California Baptist University)
Is Honors admission automatic?
No. Your student applies separately after being admitted to CBU, with two short essays.
Does Honors come with a scholarship?
Not yet. CBU has announced honors-only scholarships are coming but hadn’t listed any as of October 2026.
Will Honors make it harder to finish in four years?
It shouldn’t. Most seminars count toward general education, so they replace classes your student would take anyway.
Can current or transfer students apply?
Yes. The application asks whether you’re an incoming or current student and accepts a transfer GPA.
When should we apply?
Early. There’s no deadline, but spots are limited and decisions roll out in rounds. Applying by December 31 gets an answer by January 15.
California Baptist University is a fast-growing Christian university in Riverside, about an hour east of Los Angeles, with roughly 8,700 undergraduates and 10 schools and colleges. Faith is part of the whole experience: CBU describes its faculty and staff as 100% Christian. Academically, its center of gravity is career-focused. Health fields, business and psychology make up nearly half of the bachelor’s degrees CBU awards.
Standout Program: Architecture: CBU offers a five-year path to an accredited Master of Architecture, which is the degree most states require for licensure. The program earned the maximum eight-year accreditation term at its first opportunity, and CBU reports its graduates post the highest architecture license exam pass rates of any California program. Few Christian universities offer a licensure-track architecture degree.
Nursing and Health Sciences: The College of Nursing and College of Health Science together produce about one in five CBU bachelor’s degrees, from nursing to radiologic sciences to public health. Budget for the nursing program fee.
Business: The Dr. Robert K. Jabs School of Business is CBU’s second-largest degree area, at about 14% of bachelor’s degrees.
Engineering: The Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering offers hands-on programs, plus its own scholarships of $500 to $5,000 a year.
Psychology: About 11% of CBU bachelor’s degrees, one of its largest majors.
Music and Performing Arts: The Shelby and Ferne Collinsworth School of Performing Arts runs choirs, orchestra and worship arts programs, with audition-based scholarships.
Aviation: A flight program that trains future pilots. It’s a strong niche, but flight lab fees make it one of the most expensive majors at CBU.
Division I Athletics: CBU joined the Big West Conference in July 2026, which brings more regional rivalries and real athletic scholarship dollars.
🔗 Official California Baptist University Links
Use CBU’s official pages below to double-check admissions steps, scholarship amounts, costs and deadlines. CBU updates these every year, so always treat its pages as the final word.
Here’s CBU in one breath: a Christian university in Riverside with a career-minded, health-heavy catalog, one of California’s few licensure-track architecture programs, and a merit system so predictable you can figure out your student’s award from their transcript tonight. No test scores, no essays for money, no scholarship weekend. Just a weighted GPA, a band and a guaranteed check.
The part that takes work is the gap. Even a Trustees Scholar is looking at roughly $40,000 a year in direct costs after merit, and CBU’s own need-based help covers only a slice of what families need. California families have the biggest advantage, because the Cal Grant and CBU’s Cal B Assistance stack right on top of merit. Out-of-state families should run the net price calculator early and treat the GPA award as the main discount.
Go in clear-eyed, too. CBU’s six-year graduation rate is about 60%, and about 71% of recent graduates borrowed. The families who do best here file the FAFSA early, hit March 2, ask every department and office about the awards in this guide, and know their bottom line before signing anything.
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Written by Leo Dimilo
Leo is a parent who went through the college cost maze with his own daughter and built CollegeReadyParent so other families could get the plain-English version: no paywall, no lead forms, just what the numbers really mean. More about Leo →
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