International Admissions Guide

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Riverside, California

LIVE A STORY THAT MATTERS

MATTERS Live a Story That

For 75 years, California Baptist University has been a place where lives are shaped with purpose. Like a diamond, every life is formed through meaningful growth, intentional challenge and the work of becoming refined over time into something strong, beautiful and enduring.

At CBU, we believe you were made to live a story that matters.

A story formed through academics that prepare you for your calling, a community that supports you and a faith foundation that anchors everything you do. Here, students are not only academically prepared but also biblically rooted, globally minded and equipped to serve in a world that needs both conviction and compassion. As you step into your future, you’ll do more than earn a degree, you’ll begin to uncover the purpose you were made to live.

Celebrating Years of Purpose 75

1955

California Baptist College moved to the Riverside campus and introduced the Lancer as the official mascot

Chapter 01: In the Beginning

1950

Classes began for 42 students at First Southern Baptist Church in El Monte, CA

1998

California Baptist College officially became California Baptist University

2015

California Baptist University began offering doctoral programs transitioning into a doctoral-granting institution

2018

CBU Lancers begin competing in NCAA Division I athletics

2017

CBU opens its campus event center, now named the Dale E. and Sarah Ann Fowler Events Center

2025

75th anniversary celebrated Chapter 75

2023

CBU tied for No. 1 in the country for career preparedness and No. 2 for best student experience in The Wall Street Journal’s 2024 ranking of the Best Colleges in the U.S.

RIVERSIDE

CBU is located in the heart of Riverside, a vibrant community of more than 330,000 nestled between Southern California’s coastline and mountain ranges. With more than 280 days of sunshine, countless hiking trails, local coffee shops, concerts and cultural gems, Riverside is the perfect place to live, learn and explore.

Where your story

COMES TO LIFE

CBU blends historic charm with cutting-edge spaces designed to inspire. From our mission-style buildings to modern labs, every corner of campus helps shape your academic journey.

Explore purpose-built facilities like the three-story Engineering Building with a 3D printing lab, solar rooftop and virtual reality spaces. Outside

STUDENT PROFILE

Home Country: India

Graduating Year: 2024

Graduate Program: Architecture (M.Arch)

“I came to CBU for my Graduate program in Architecture. Resources to learn about the program and the courses are everywhere, but is that all that matters for an international student? A good community is what someone miles away from home needs, and I got that through CBU. The academic approach helped me grow professionally, and the student life made living more fun. There are a lot of opportunities here to interact with people from different cultures and share their celebrations, food, practices, and all such things through the international center. CBU throws many events, making the community fun to be with. I have grown professionally and personally thanks to the friends I met here through the International Center, my classmates, other staff, and faculty who made it possible”

Chitravahini Raghu

PROFESSOR PROFILE

Dr. Jong-Wha Bai

Professor of Civil Engineering and Construction Management

Courses Taught:

• Structural Analysis I

• Structural Design I

• Structural Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering

Why I Love Teaching at CBU:

Dr. Bai values the support CBU provides for faculty research and professional development, including grants to attend conferences and fund scholarly work. He also appreciates the opportunity to involve students in research and service-learning projects, both locally and abroad. CBU’s location offers strong connections with industry leaders across the Inland Empire and Los Angeles region.

Current Research:

Dr. Bai’s work focuses on resilient infrastructure and sustainable construction materials, including performance evaluation, seismic loss modeling and the behavior of high-performance concrete.

SEE ALL PROGRAMS calbaptist.edu/programs

Undergraduate Programs

College of Architecture, Visual Arts and Design

Architecture (BA/M.Arch)

Art Education (BA)

Art Therapy Studies (BA)

Film (BA)

Fine Art (BA)

Graphic Design and Visual Experience (BA)

Illustration (BA)

Interior Design (BA)

Photography (BA)

College of Arts and Sciences

Actuarial Science (BS)

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BS)

Biology (BS)

Biomedical Sciences (BS)

Broadcast and Digital Media Production (BA)

Chemistry (BS)

Communication Studies (BA)

Creative Writing (BFA)

Criminal Justice (BS)

Digital Media Communication (BA)

English (BA)

Environmental Science (BS)

Forensic Chemistry (BS)

Foundational Mathematics (BS)

History (BA)

International Studies (BA)

Journalism (BA)

Mathematics (BS)

Pharmaceutical Sciences (BS)

Political Science (BA)

Public Relations (BA)

Spanish (BA)

Sports Analytics (BS)

Statistics and Data Analytics (BA)

World Languages (BA)

*I-20 not issued.

College of Behavioral and Social Sciences

Anthropology (BA)

Behavioral Science (BA)

Christian Behavioral Science (BA)

Psychology (BA)

Social Work (BSW)

Sociology (BA)

Sport and Performance Psychology (BS)

College of Engineering

Aviation Flight (BS)

Aviation Management (BS)

Biomedical Engineering (BSBME)

Chemical Engineering (BSChE)

Civil Engineering (BSCE)

Computer Science (BCS)

Construction Management (BS)

Data Science (BS)

Electrical and Computer Engineering (BSECE)

Engineering (BSE)

Mechanical Engineering (BSME)

College of Health Science

Communication Sciences and Disorders (BS)

Diagnostic Medical Sonography (BS)

Exercise Science (BS)

Health and Human Sciences (BS)

Health Science (BS)

Healthcare Administration (BS)

Kinesiology (BA)

Nutrition and Food Sciences (BS)

Physical Therapist Assistant (AS)*

Public Health (BS)

Radiography (BS)

Sport Management (BS)

College of Nursing

Nursing (BSN)

School of Business

Accounting (BS)

Business Administration (BS)

Entrepreneurship (BS)

Finance (BS)

Marketing (BS)

School of Christian Ministries

Applied Theology (BAT)

Christian Studies (BA)

Intercultural Studies (BA)

Philosophy (BA)

School of Education

Early Childhood Studies (BA)

Elementary Education (BS)

Liberal Arts (BA)

School of Performing Arts

Commercial Performance (BM)

Composition for Stage and Screen (BM)

Instrumental Performance (BM)

Music (BA)

Music Education (BM)

Music for Worship Arts and Ministry (BA)

Piano Performance (BM)

Songwriting (BM)

Studio Production (BM)

Theatre (BA)

Vocal Performance (BM)

California Baptist University is regionally accredited by the accrediting commission for schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). CBU confers associates, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.

Graduate Programs

College of Architecture, Visual Arts and Design

Architecture (BA/M.Arch)*

College of Arts and Sciences

Biomedical Sciences (MS)*

English (MA)

College of Behavioral and Social Sciences

$36,538†

College of Nursing

Nursing (MSN)

ADN–MSN*

BSN–MSN*

$28,683

$15,885

Counseling Ministry (MA) and $26,263

Counseling Psychology (MS) Dual Degree*

Counseling Ministry (MA)*

Counseling Psychology (MS)

Forensic Psychology (MA)

Industrial-Organizational Psychology (MS)*

Social Work (MSW)*

Social Work (DSW)**

Sport and Performance Psychology (MS)*

$22,081

$25,338

$21,028†

$26,116

$28,788†

$23,039†

Clinical Psychology (PsyD)* $36,448

College of Engineering

Computer Science (MSCS)

College of Health Science

Athletic Training (MS)*

Kinesiology (MS)

Exercise Science

Sport Management / Physical Education

Public Health (MPH)*

Speech-Language Pathology (MS)*

$18,748†

$33,921

$17,307

$25,983

$22,845

$51,642

Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS)* $66,882

ELMSN*

Nursing Practice (DNP)**

Post-Master’s Certification**

School of Business

Business Administration (MBA)

Business Analytics / Digital Marketing

$25,971

$22,521

$50,588

$31,497 Management / Healthcare Administration

Information Technology Management (MS)*

School of Education

Education (MS)

Graduate Credentials**

School Counseling (MS)*

School Psychology (MS)*

School of Performing Arts

Music (MM)

Performance Certificate**

Worship Arts (MA)**

Leadership Institute

Leadership Studies (PhD)*

*Language score required.

**I-20 not issued.

$24,651

$23,043

$23,733

$21,303

$28,893

$18,348†

$21,378

†I-20 Financial Requirement is for Fall and Spring semesters only. Program costs are estimates and are subject to change.

FOREVER

International Student and Scholar Services at CBU supports international students’ successful integration by providing academic and immigration advice, hosting cultural events and connecting them to the CBU community.

calbaptist.edu/ic

We Love Traditions

• Lunar New Year

• Karaoke Night

• Taste the Nations

• Festival of Color

• Christmas Tree Lighting

• Cultural Cafe

• International Celebration Week

STUDENT PROFILE

Tevi Sumito

Home Country: Indonesia

Undergraduate Major: Psychology (2022)

Graduate Program: Counseling Psychology (MFT) (2025)

Current Job: Behavioral Autism Therapies

“CBU not only succeeds academically, but also in welcoming everyone with open arms. It definitely became my second home!”

WATCH THIS CLIP FROM CBU’S FESTIVAL OF COLOR!

Turning the page to your

The Career Center partners with students in aligning their education and career pursuits by providing opportunities for individual planning, professional development and hands-on experience in their chosen profession.

2,489

Mock Interviews Conducted

1,449 Resume, Cover Letter and LinkedIn Reviews

897

Employers Recruiting On Campus Finding Work Made Easy for International Students

Hired on OPT 95% Hourly Wage On-Campus up to 20 Hours per Week

$16.50

Where are CBU Alumni employed?

+ Abbott

+ Apple

+ Buffalo Bills

+ County of Riverside

+ ESRI

+ General Motors

+ Gensler

+ Lockheed Martin

+ Loma Linda University Hospital

+ Microsoft

+ NASA

+ Nickelodeon

+ Southwest Airlines

+ Space X

+ Tesla

+ The Walt Disney Company

From HI! To HIRED!

Mayurkumar Mistry

MAY 2023, MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

“My academic journey in business analytics at California Baptist University equipped me with a robust toolkit of analytical skills and strategic insights that I apply daily in my role at Technman Consulting. As a senior business analyst, I leverage this foundation to drive data-driven decisions and operational efficiencies within professional courier services. The guidance and mentorship I received from CBU’s faculty and International Center were invaluable in shaping my career trajectory”

Senior Business Analyst | Techman Consulting

Amanda Low

MAY 2023, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

“The Career Center has prepared me the most through their mock interviews and career fairs. I was able to feel more prepared for my interviews and get face-to-face interactions with employers, which helped a lot with my internship search. Out of the four offers I received, three of the companies were from the career fairs at CBU! Without a doubt, the Career Center played a huge role in my internship search.”

Engineer 1 | MicroVention-Terumo

UNDERGRADUATE Application Process

Apply at calbaptist.edu/intlapply

Nonrefundable $45 application fee. See Deadlines: 1

Application Deadline

November 1, 2025

Classes Start January 12, 2026

Essay or Interview: 3–5 paragraphs

Application Deadline July 1, 2026

Classes Start September 8, 2026 (Proposed)

“What interests you the most about CBU, and how can our programs, faculty, and location help you achieve your future goals?”

Official Transcripts: Certified English translation is needed if the original document is not in English.

Financial Documentation*: Documentation verifying your ability to meet financial obligations for the first year (tuition, fees and living expenses), as required by the US government.

English Language Proficiency:

Undergraduate Financial Aid

Cost per Year (2024–2025)

Tuition and Fees: $45,996*

+ Living Expenses: $18,986

I-20 Requirement: $64,982

Academic Scholarships (Incoming Freshmen)

Trustees Scholarship: $17,000 | 4.0 GPA and above

Presidents Scholarship: $16,000 | 3.9-3.99 GPA

Deans Scholarship: $15,000 | 3.3-3.89 GPA

Directors Scholarship: $13,000 | 2.95-3.29 GPA

Academic Scholarships (Incoming Transfers)

Transfer Platinum: $13,000 | 3.75 GPA and above

Transfer Gold: $12,000 | 3.5-3.74 GPA

Transfer Blue: $11,000 | 3.0-3.49 GPA

Transfer Bronze: $9,000 | 2.5-2.99 GPA

Need-Based Grants

Global Initiatives Grant

Based on financial need according to our international financial aid application.

Other Scholarships

• Athletics

• College of Architecture, Visual Arts and Design

• College of Engineering

• Journalism

• Minister’s Kin

• Multiple Sibling

• Public Relations

• School of Christian Ministries (Double Major)

• School of Performing Arts

• Speech and Debate

GRADUATE Application Process

Apply at calbaptist.edu/intlapply

Nonrefundable $45 application fee. See deadlines:

Application Deadline

November 1, 2025

Classes Start January 12, 2026

Application Deadline March 1, 2026

Classes Start May 4, 2026

Application Deadline July 1, 2026

Classes Start September 8, 2026 (Proposed)

Essay or Interview: Supplemental documentation varies by Program (Resume, Letters of Recommendation, etc.) Refer to your admissions counselor or program website for specific requirements.

Official Transcripts: Certified English translation is needed if the original document is not in English.

Financial Documentation*: Send documentation verifying your ability to meet financial obligations for the first year (tuition, fees and living expenses), as required by the US government.

English Language Proficiency:

Conditional admission with the Intensive English Program is available for some graduate programs.

ESL094 is a mandatory co-requisite class designed for graduate students as an introduction to research writing, resources and strategies. You will gain familiarity and experience with the basic steps of researching, writing, and submitting research papers in the American system.

*Not required for admission but required for I-20

Graduate Financial Aid

I-20 Financial Requirement (varies based on program)

• Tuition and Fees: See Program Cost

• Living Expenses:

- Fall & Spring: $22,114

- Fall, Spring & Summer: $33,171

are estimates and are subject to change.

Need-Based Grants

Global Initiatives Grant

Based on financial need according to our international financial aid application.

For 75 years, CBU has shaped lives through purpose-filled learning, faith and community.

Students don’t just earn degrees, they live stories that matter.

CBU offers award-winning housing options for international students, available on a first-come, first-served basis for all Undergraduate and Graduate options. We ensure all undergraduate students can live on-campus! Start

BELONG

Step Into the Setting of Your Story

International Arrival Dates

Spring: Tuesday, January 6, 2026

Summer: Thursday, April 30, 2026 (Graduate Students Only)

Fall: Tuesday, September 1, 2026 (Proposed)

International Student and Scholar Services can assist with researching the many apartment complexes near campus for Graduate and Upperclassmen students pursuing off-campus housing.

Tours and Information Sessions:

• Campus Tours

• Living Area Tours

• Academic Events

• Financial Aid Info Sessions

Campus Preview Events:

• CBU Senior Preview Day: High School Seniors

• Spring Preview Day: High School Juniors

• Transfer Day: College Transfers

• Lancer Day: Accepted Undergraduate Students

• Open House: High School Students

• International Events: All Students

STUDENT PROFILE

Tianzhi Wen (Elisha)

Home Country: China

Graduating Year: 2023

Graduate Program: Marketing, BS

Current Job: Marketing Specialist

“This school truly is a different place, where you can meet people with different backgrounds, beliefs and lifestyles. The friendliness of the students ensures that you can make friends whenever you want without any problem, just like the family that I’ve come to know in the past four years. The campus environment and food is the BEST in California.”

Intensive English Program

The Intensive English Program offers student-centered, interactive classes to improve academic reading, writing, oral and listening skills.

The Intensive English Program offers the following:

• Student-centered interactive classes

• Full CBU experience

• Reading, writing, listening and speaking

• 5 levels

• Undergraduate and Graduate level preparation

• Conversation partners

(2025–2026)

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