Bakersfield College
- Graduation Rate
- 22% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $37,291 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $14,621 C+
- Close to the national average
- Enrollment
- 17,280
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 16.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $16.9 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $16.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $932,276.
What The Data Says
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A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 22% — 62% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $16.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Bakersfield College
Bakersfield College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 17,280
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Psychology, Health Professions, Business & Marketing
Why students choose Bakersfield College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $14,621 a year after grants and scholarships — 15% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $37,291 ten years after enrolling — 9% below the typical college, against $8,312 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 0.94 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Bakersfield College serves over 17,000 students, making it a significant hub for higher education in California. With a graduation rate of 22%, the college is focused on improving student outcomes and supporting those who seek to advance their education and career prospects.
Chetty/Opportunity Insights data indicates that while specific mobility metrics are not available, community colleges like Bakersfield College help many students from lower-income backgrounds access education and improve their economic circumstances. The college's diverse programs in Humanities, Psychology, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, and Biology & Biomedical cater to a wide range of interests and career paths.
Financially, the net price for attending Bakersfield College is $14,621, with a median debt of $8,312 for graduates. After ten years, alumni earn an average of $37,291. This environment suits students looking for affordable education and a pathway to gainful employment, particularly those who thrive in a community college setting and value practical learning experiences.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Bakersfield College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Bakersfield College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Bakersfield College, located in Bakersfield, California, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 22%.
- Full-Time Faculty
- 50%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $12,330
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 28:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.47
- First-Gen Students
- 63%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Bakersfield College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Bakersfield College is $11,300, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $14,621. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,493 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,312 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $1,430
- Out-of-State
- $11,300
- Avg Net Price
- $14,621
- Median Debt
- $8,312
- Pell Grant Rate
- 30%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 1%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $14,493
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $14,538
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $15,011
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Bakersfield College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Bakersfield College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Bakersfield College report median earnings of $37,291, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $29,867
- 8 Years
- $33,356
- 10 Years
- $37,291
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.22x
- Earning > $25K
- 43%
Earnings Trajectory
How Bakersfield Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Bakersfield College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Bakersfield College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $14,621/year ($58,484 total). Graduates earn $37,291 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $990,760 in total earnings — a net gain of $932,276 (16.9× your investment). The median debt is $8,312, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 22% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $58,484
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $990,760
- Net Return
- $932,276
- ROI Multiple
- 16.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $14,621
- Median Debt
- $8,312
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 22%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $1,138,374
Top Programs
The fields Bakersfield College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 54%
- Psychology 5%
- Health Professions 5% $88,164 early-career
- Business & Marketing 4%
- Biology & Biomedical 4%
- Criminal Justice 3%
- Social Sciences 2%
- Communications 2%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Bakersfield College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Bakersfield College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Bakersfield College, located in Bakersfield, California, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 22%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Bakersfield College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Bakersfield College is $11,300, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $14,621. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,493 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,312 in federal student loans.
Is Bakersfield College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Bakersfield College report median earnings of $37,291, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Bakersfield College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at Bakersfield College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.94, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.09). Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Bakersfield College.
- Fresno City CollegeFresno, CA · Close peer24% grad $37,361 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Rio Hondo CollegeWhittier, CA · Close peer26% grad $44,950 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · similar net price
- Columbus State Community CollegeColumbus, OH · Close peer28% grad $39,435 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Los Angeles Mission CollegeSylmar, CA · Close peer20% grad $39,834 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
- Mesa Community CollegeMesa, AZ · Close peer16% grad $44,034 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size
- Los Angeles Valley CollegeValley Glen, CA · Close peer32% grad $42,678 earnWhy: similar size · same state
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Bakersfield College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at Bakersfield College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.94, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.09). Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note