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San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield

Private for-profit Bakersfield, CA · Urban · Far West · 87% data
C- Graduation C- Earnings D+ Diversity
Graduation Rate
52% C-
About half of students who start complete their degree
Earnings (10yr)
$38,317 C-
Below average for college graduates
Net Price
$23,351 D+
36% more than the typical college
Enrollment
798
Earnings -6% vs avg
Graduation -8% vs avg
Net Price 36% vs avg

Bottom line: A D+ overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 8.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $8.8 over 20 years.

8.8× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $8.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $726,594.

What The Data Says

  1. A D+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Every $1 invested returns $8.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

About San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield

San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield 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
Private for-profit College
Carnegie Class
Associate's College
Enrollment
798
Setting
Urban
Primary Strengths
Health Professions, Construction Trades, Mechanic & Repair Tech, Business & Marketing

Why students choose San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield

Strength in Health Professions
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

D+
Top 66% overall
C-
Earnings
$38,317 median
D+
Value
1.6× net price
D+
Affordability
$23,351/yr net
C-
Graduation
52% graduate
D+
Diversity
0.48 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield has a focused enrollment of 798 students, offering a personalized educational experience. The college is particularly strong in health professions, construction trades, and mechanic and repair tech programs, catering to practical career paths that are in demand.

According to Opportunity Insights data, while specific mobility rates are not available, the college's structure supports many students from lower-income backgrounds, as evidenced by a 62% Pell Grant rate. Graduates see a 10-year earnings average of $38,317, indicating a steady return on investment for those who complete their programs.

Students can expect a net price of $23,351, with a median debt of $10,674 upon graduation. This financial layout suggests that while tuition can be a significant burden, graduates are likely to find employment in fields that are growing. Students who thrive here are often those committed to hands-on learning and ready to enter practical careers shortly after completing their education.

Can I Get In?

How selective San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Bakersfield, California, San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 52%.

Retention Rate
67%
Full-Time Faculty
41%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$6,989
Student–Faculty Ratio
25:1
Diversity Index
0.48
First-Gen Students
59%

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 San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

The average net price at San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield, the amount students actually pay each year after federal grants and scholarships, is about $23,351. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $23,186 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,674 in federal student loans.

Avg Net Price
$23,351
Median Debt
$10,674
Pell Grant Rate
62%
Federal Loan Rate
71%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$23,186
Family Income $30K–$48K
$19,339
Family Income $48K–$75K
$23,578
Family Income $110K+
$27,534

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 San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield report median earnings of $38,317, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

6 Years After Entry
$36,007
8 Years
$36,746
10 Years
$38,317
Debt-to-Earnings
0.28x
Earning > $25K
47%

Earnings Trajectory

$36,007 6yr $36,746 8yr $38,317 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (133)
38%
100% (133)
38%
100% (133)
38%
100% (133)
38%

How San Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation52%Earnings 10yr$38KNet Price$23KRetention67%Median Debt$11KPell Grant Rate62%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$23K$0-30K$19K$30-48K$24K$48-75K$28K$110K+

College ROI Calculator

Is San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $23,351/year ($93,404 total). Graduates earn $38,317 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $819,998 in total earnings — a net gain of $726,594 (8.8× your investment). The median debt is $10,674, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 52% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$93,404
Projected 20yr Earnings
$819,998
Net Return
$726,594
ROI Multiple
8.8×
Cost Per Year
$23,351
Median Debt
$10,674
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
52%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Top Programs

The fields San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield 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.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Bakersfield, California, San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 52%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

The average net price at San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield, the amount students actually pay each year after federal grants and scholarships, is about $23,351. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $23,186 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,674 in federal student loans.

Is San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield report median earnings of $38,317, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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