CSU Bakersfield's petroleum geology program is the only one offered by a public university west of the Rockies.

After considering several locations, including nearby Delano and parts of Kings and Tulare County, a steering committee decided on Bakersfield because it was the largest isolated metropolitan area in the United States without a four-year university at that time.

While popular majors for graduates were Education (General) at 35.28%, Social Work at 20.56% and Student Counseling and Personnel Services at 9.44%.

[14] On May 24, 2019, at the 49th annual undergraduate commencement ceremony, CSU Bakersfield awarded 2,312 bachelor's degrees, a 28% year-over-year increase and a record for the university.

[23] Active areas of research include synthesizing polymers from renewable resources[24] and geologic CO2 storage.

Following a period as one of a small number of Division I independents, CSU Bakersfield joined the Western Athletic Conference in July 2013 for most sports.

On June 1, 2006, CSU Bakersfield president, Dr. Horace Mitchell, formally announced that CSUB would raise $6 million over a five-year period for the additional costs for the athletics program.

The Roadrunners will remain a member of the Western Athletic Conference until July 1, 2020, at which point it will begin a full membership in the Big West.

Institutional Research, Planning and Assessment[50][51][52] In fall of 2013, CSUB enrolled its largest freshman class of over 1,300 students.

Each year, the top juniors, seniors, and graduate students receive membership invitations to join Alpha Chi through the California Iota chapter of the national honor society.

[57] The six buildings comprising the original (West) dorm complex are each named after locations in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings novel: Rivendell, Rohan, Entwood, Numenor, Dobry, and Lorien.

Dorm facilities include a first floor lounge in each building, a dining commons, a swimming pool, a sand volleyball court, a pond, and a parking lot.

[58] CSUB has added a new dorm complex called Student Housing East on the northeast end of campus.