Colleges in Bakersfield, California
10 colleges and universities — federal Scorecard data.
There are 10 colleges and universities in Bakersfield, California (8 Private for-profit, 2 Public). The figures below are pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — the same federal dataset colleges are required to report to.
Across all 10 institutions, the median net price after grants and scholarships works out to about $24,030 per year, the median 6-year graduation rate is 53.7%, schools that report admissions data accept a median 94% of applicants.
The median net price in Bakersfield runs about $3,319 higher than the California statewide median of $20,711.
Whether you're comparing in-state public tuition, looking for a private nonprofit with strong outcomes, or trying to find the right program in Bakersfield, the table below lets you sort every institution side-by-side on cost, admissions, graduation rate, and size.
Median net price
$24,030
After aid
Median grad rate
53.7%
6-year
Median admission rate
94%
Median enrollment
690
Undergrad
All colleges in Bakersfield
Sorted by enrollment.
| School | State | Type | Net price | Grad rate | Admission | Size | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield College Bakersfield, CA | CA | Public, 4-year | $14,621 | 20.7% | Not available | 17,280 | Complete | |
| California State University-Bakersfield Bakersfield, CA | CA | Public, 4-year | $5,652 | 49.8% | 94% | 8,577 | Complete | |
| UEI College-Bakersfield Bakersfield, CA | CA | Private for-profit, <2-year | $27,257 | 68.5% | Not available | 1,415 | Partial | |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield Bakersfield, CA | CA | Private for-profit, 2-year | $23,351 | 57.6% | Not available | 798 | Partial | |
| Milan Institute-Bakersfield Bakersfield, CA | CA | Private for-profit, <2-year | $24,487 | 59.1% | Not available | 582 | Partial | |
| Glendale Career College-North-West College-Bakersfield Bakersfield, CA | CA | Private for-profit, 2-year | $51,867 | 49.6% | Not available | 493 | Partial | |
| California Aeronautical University Bakersfield, CA | CA | Private for-profit, 4-year | $36,126 | 30.2% | Not available | 347 | Complete | |
| Lyle's College of Beauty Bakersfield, CA | CA | Private for-profit, <2-year | $23,572 | 83.3% | Not available | 70 | Partial | |
| Unitek College - Bakersfield Bakersfield, CA | CA | Private for-profit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing | |
| High Desert Medical College - Bakerfield Bakersfield, CA | CA | Private for-profit, 2-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing |
By institution type
Private for-profit (8)
Private for-profit colleges in Bakersfield operate as businesses, generally focused on career-oriented and online programs with rolling admissions.
- UEI College-BakersfieldNet price: $27,257Grad: 68.5%
- San Joaquin Valley College-BakersfieldNet price: $23,351Grad: 57.6%
- Milan Institute-BakersfieldNet price: $24,487Grad: 59.1%
- Glendale Career College-North-West College-BakersfieldNet price: $51,867Grad: 49.6%
- California Aeronautical UniversityNet price: $36,126Grad: 30.2%
- Lyle's College of BeautyNet price: $23,572Grad: 83.3%
- Unitek College - BakersfieldNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- High Desert Medical College - BakerfieldNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
Public (2)
Public colleges in Bakersfield are state- or locally-funded institutions that typically offer lower in-state tuition and serve a broad mix of residents and commuters.
- Bakersfield CollegeNet price: $14,621Grad: 20.7%
- California State University-BakersfieldNet price: $5,652Grad: 49.8%
Top programs in Bakersfield
Most-completed programs across Bakersfield colleges, weighted by enrollment.
- Liberal arts37.5% of degrees
- Health professions9.4% of degrees
- Psychology6.9% of degrees
- Business6.3% of degrees
- Social sciences4.0% of degrees
- Biological sciences3.9% of degrees
- Homeland security & law enforcement3.6% of degrees
- Education2.9% of degrees
Frequently asked questions about colleges in Bakersfield
Q.How many colleges are in Bakersfield, California?
There are 10 colleges and universities in Bakersfield, California that report to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — 8 Private for-profit, 2 Public.
Q.What is the largest college in Bakersfield?
By undergraduate enrollment, Bakersfield College is the largest institution in Bakersfield with roughly 17,280 undergraduates.
Q.What is the cheapest college in Bakersfield?
Based on average net price after aid, California State University-Bakersfield is the most affordable institution in Bakersfield at $5,652 per year.
Q.Which Bakersfield college has the highest graduation rate?
Lyle's College of Beauty reports the highest 6-year graduation rate among Bakersfield institutions at 83.3%.
Q.What is the average tuition in Bakersfield?
The median net price across all 10 colleges in Bakersfield is $24,030 per year after grants and scholarships.
Q.What are the most popular college majors in Bakersfield?
Across Bakersfield colleges, the most-completed programs by share of degrees awarded are Liberal arts, Health professions, Psychology.
Q.Are there community colleges in Bakersfield?
Yes — Bakersfield includes 2 public institutions, many of which offer 2-year associate degrees and transfer pathways to 4-year programs.
Other cities in California
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS. Medians are computed across institutions in Bakersfield that report each metric. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with each institution.