California Baptist University

Live Your Purpose

California Baptist University believes each person has been created for a unique purpose.
CBU strives to help students understand and engage this purpose by providing a Christ-centered educational experience that integrates academics with spiritual and social development opportunities. Graduates are challenged to become individuals whose skills, integrity and sense of purpose glorify God and distinguish them in the workplace and in the world. 

California Baptist University is one of the top private Christian colleges and universities in Southern California. CBU offers associate's, bachelor's, master's, doctoral and credential programs in Riverside, San Bernardino, and online.

CBU offers the expansive range of academic programs and student support services you would expect from a large university while preserving the vibrant social and spiritual life that makes small schools so appealing. CBU students can enjoy a mouthwatering menu at the University’s spacious cafeteria, a cool swim in the enormous pool in the Lancer Aquatics Center, solitude in the historic Annie Gabriel Library, school pride at athletic events, and spiritual renewal at weekly chapel meetings. 

CBU’s First-Year Experience (FYE) helps ease first-year students into University life and the CBU community. Starting with Welcome Weekend, FYE provides activities and services to connect students to campus, classmates, and Christ and helps them succeed academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. 

Our students also receive guidance throughout their time at CBU, where they are able to sign up for mock job interviews and attend job fairs as they transition from college to career.

A beautiful campus
Our beautiful 162-acre main campus is situated in the heart of Riverside's historic Magnolia Avenue district just a short drive from popular beaches and mountain resorts. The campus maintains the charm of the mission revival style while incorporating modern, technologically advanced facilities. The most recent architectural additions to campus are the 5,050-seat Events Center and the four-story apartment complex, Magnolia Crossing. 

Division I Athletics program
California Baptist University began a successful transition to NCAA Division I after winning its first-ever Learfield Directors’ Cup in 2018. CBU's Lancers athletic program is gaining recognition as one of the best in the nation with numerous regional and national championship teams in a variety of sports.

A spiritual mission
In addition to community involvement through a variety of service projects and activities, California Baptist University also supports a wide range of highly active international programs. The CBU International Service Projects program annually sends scores of student teams throughout the world to teach and participate in recreation, construction, and infrastructure.