California Baptist University Reviews

"This school is beautiful. The teachers are awesome and the class teacher to student ratio is unmatched. Financial aid is great. The caliber of education at the school is really great! The only negative is the parking situation, but I would say there are negatives at any university."

"California Baptist is a nurturing environment that is filled with professors dedicated to helping students reach their highest potential. The environment, while Christian, is welcoming to both Christians and non Christians. However, it is important to note that faith is integral to certain portions of the curriculum."

"It was a very nice campus. A small D2 school. A lot of activities for undergraduate students not so much for graduate students. Small library, but a lot of parts of the campus is expanding"

"California Baptist University is on an amazing School. The school is Affordable. The professors are well versed end of their very best to give you the proper resources that can help you in your field. I am grateful for the time that I spent here. I have learned a lot."

"Personally, I feel like choosing to attend CBU was the worst mistake of my life. The financial aid department is not helpful in the least and you can never get in contact with your advisors. It is way too expensive for the quality of the education. The bible courses primarily use study bibles. They pride themselves as being a Christian based school, but they don't even use the Bible. Many people enjoy their experience at CBU, but I am not and I am going to transfer. Maybe life on campus is better, but I would never recommend this university."

"The CBU Online program was very hands on, and the professors really seemed to care about me as a student, and were supportive and helpful throughout my education. I loved that the schedule was flexible enough for me to still have a job while I attended."

"Attending California Baptist University has been an amazing experience. The campus is beautiful and welcoming. The professor's are helpful and very informed on their subjects. I honestly felt at home at CBU and on good-terms with all the professors in my degree field."

"I completed my Bachelor's Degree from California Baptist University and was satisfied with the education that I received. The campus life at CBU allows students to be involved in a number of avenues, and the size of the school allows for students to register on-time for the classes that they need and have small enough classroom sizes to actually build relationships with the professors. I was able to complete my Bachelor's Degree in Psychology with a minor in Global Studies in under 4 years, and I am now in the process of obtaining my Master's Degree. Since CBU is a private institution, it is quite expensive. I have a substantial amount of debt as a result of my education, but also have the opportunity to enter the workforce with a career that will allow me to pay off my debt in a timely manner. I would highly recommend CBU as an institution of Higher education. I would not be the woman that I am today without the influence and wisdom of the professors and staff at this institution."

"Let me first begin by saying that I have had a wonderful time and experience within the Early Childhood Studies major at California Baptist University, and if I had to do it all over again, I would still choose ECH as my intended major. However, over the course of time, there have been some slight adjustments I would make. They are as follows: I would require, if not strongly encourage all prospective Early Childhood Studies majors and those within the class to get involved in their community through early education. I advise this for several reasons. By teaching, interning, or volunteering within this particular scope of study, students receive valuable and inexhaustible hands on experience. They become actively present in real life contexts and gain knowledge for future decision making. This includes deciding whether the ECH major is the right fit for them. In addition to these assets, students gain valuable information and job opportunities that they can list on their resume. This is critical because most, if not all, employers look for potential workers who can make them more money, be cost effective, and do their job effectively and efficiently. This all starts with having real life experience to present to keen employers. The other weakness I must regretfully point out is the aptitude of some professors to teach at a university level. Here is what I mean by this. There are certain professors who are hired because of their connection through someone else, letter of recommendation, or ability to perform in their specific realm of expertise. In other words, they may be wonderful people who are highly knowledgeable and skilled in their craft, but that does not necessarily make them fit for teaching, especially at the caliber of a university level school. Therefore, I would simply suggest that the hiring process be more direct in what they are looking for, and closely examine their teaching style. This can be done by simulating a mock interview for assessing how the professor would teach if it were a real classroom full of students. In this way, university employers are able to make a more educated, confident, and well-rounded critique of the prospective employer, and avoid issues like these in the future. The strengths of the Early Childhood major are as follows: Students are spoiled as they are able to learn from professors who are currently actively involved in the Early Childhood domain, whether it be teaching, facilitating, or specializing. They all have something different, unique and special to bring to the table. Students are able to become experts in the Early Childhood realm as they discover how to conduct and complete complex paperwork such as the IFSP and IEP as well as become familiar with organizations like NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children), and ELYF (Early Years Learning Framework). In addition to critical thinking skills, students were pushed to think outside the box by generating class projects that demonstrated their knowledge of their desired learning objectives and in their fortitude to present it in a clear, meaningful and creative manner. Lastly, the ability to attend and participate in course observations, experimentations, and fieldtrips allowed students to grasp a fresh, invigorating, and innovative perspective for the Early Childhood field. The strength of these trips and assignments lye in the practicality and hands on opportunities available to young, energetic minds. These assignments are a must and are what makes this major so great. Finally, the heart of the Early Childhood major is to promote social justice, child advocacy, knowledge of the early years, and the aptitude for excellence. I cannot say enough good things about this major, the people in it, and the work ethic and passion of the professors. They deeply care and put more effort into one semester of work than some teachers will ever do in a lifetime. They are God fearing, educated men and women of God, and they truly strive to train us in the way we should go. I am honored and blessed to be a part of this major, and to experience the amazing gifts and knowledge these professors so willingly impart and pass onto me and my fellow peers. Simply put, they are the best. I have no doubt God will continue to have his hand of provision and blessing upon them as they continue their endeavors in teaching and wherever they may go. Thank you for an amazing four years CBU. In this, I remain hopeful and steadfast: to experience the next chapter of my life, and to see the great works God has prepared in advance for me to do. Sincerely, Brianna"

"I love the board for the Athletic Training program here at CBU. They are very helpful and easily accessible. I loved how welcoming everyone at the program upon my arrival has been. I am very excited that I chose CBU as my graduate school! It just feels like I am home. There are definitely too many pros to list them all. But, the school has a beautiful campus, its close to the beach, has a large amount of sports teams, and job opportunities in the area. The only con is that California is expensive. But luckily the staff at CBU is great and will do all that they can to provide you with as much information as possible on how to fund your schooling. They make that process very simple. It is very easy to get in touch with faculty and professors to help you with financial aid. Upon acceptance you are given a large amount of information on this also. I can not say anything bad about the program. If you choose CBU you won't regret it!"

"Cal Baptist has provided a great learning environment with staff that are working in the field. I know every day that lecture will reflect what I will be facing in the real world and I am supported with an education that will help me help my clients as best as possible. The professors are supportive and act more as co-therapists, here to support us on our journey. The rigor of the class work is high and I leave class confident that I will do well in the field."

"I love my Counseling Psychology graduate program at California Baptist University. I have learned so much from the amazing faculty there. I wish it was closer to Los Angeles, but Riverside is a very appealing city on its own. The school provides a wonderful sense of community and one-on-one attention with a Christian perspective."

"I really love the atmoshere of the school. The professors are always willing to help. Students are also very friendly and the campus is not too big and you can find classes pretty easy."

"The program is in it's first year and though there have been a few growing pains, the faculty and staff are immensely receptive to feedback and show real concern in each student's experience and success. the curriculum is challenging and appropriate."

"I feel the education offered to me through the program is very good; the training and network provided by faculty is exceptional. They do a very good job connecting you to different sources. I also appreciate the integration of faith by the faculty when relevant to the coursework. However, the student body is not very diverse and the surrounding area is not very interesting. There are not a lot of options for entertaining and dining is only decent."

"CBU is a great school, it will keep the students accountable and will help them grow in there career paths. I attended the Hybrid courses. I transferred in from University of Phoenix where I lacked accountability. The only issue I have with the school is the Financial Aid department, there are not very helpful and not very informative when it comes to Financial aid. I found out just 30 credit shy of graduation that I would not have the aid to complete my degree."

"This graduate program is great because it is the only one of its kind in my area. The classes are interesting and fun, while still being hard and satisfying. The only con that comes to mind is that all of the grad school classes are held in the evening, and I would prefer to take them during the day."

"A small cohort allows for greater attention from professors and and overall better learning experience in the classroom. All professors have extensive backgrounds in their field which adds to the value of your network. Faculty are also very receptive to student needs; something that is lacking in many graduate programs. A con would definitely be the lack of graduate housing which would be especially helpful as many students are commuting from distances over an hour away."

"My experience in the school counseling program at California Baptist University has been great. All of the professors who teach the classes in this program are highly qualified with a plethora of real life experience in the field. They provide great guidance to students and give support in all areas of life, not just academics. The program is small which allows for a unique class experience. With less than ten students in classes, everybody is able to participate and it ensures quality understanding for all members of the program. A lot of hours spent outside of class in public schools are encouraged and mandated to aid students in understanding what the career really entails. I am halfway through the program and I feel that the efforts I have put into the program are worth the knowledge that I have gained to be successful and effective in my future career as a school counselor."

"The pros of studying Higher Education Leadership and Student Development at Cal Baptist is that you receive education from current higher education faculty and administrators who are living out their degree. It is a Christ-centered, hands on, learning experience where face to face time with professors and faculty is of key importance. I would say the cons of this program are that you can only take two classes a semester, and because it is a newer program, details are still in process of being orchestrated."