Colleges Near Bakersfield, California
Looking for information about the best colleges and universities serving Bakersfield? Here's your guide to the top schools offering degrees to students in the area, including institutions located within 70 miles of Bakersfield, California.
There are at least 9 colleges serving the area, including 3 private colleges and universities, 1 public college or university, and 4 community colleges offering 2-year degrees.
The Best Adult Colleges & Careers Guide provides a breakdown of the colleges serving Bakersfield, with details about cost, enrollment, student type and degree offerings. Click here to learn more about the guide.
Bakersfield, California Colleges by the Numbers
Associate, bachelor's, masters, and doctoral degree completions at institutions near Bakersfield, California have been growing over the past 5 years. In 2022, students completed 11,887 doctorates at colleges and universities near Bakersfield. That was an increase of 76% from completions reported in 2018.
Schools with Degree Completions
Est. Total Completions in 2022
Est. Completions (Last 5 Years)
Sponsored
Top School For Adults & Online Students
Franklin University is a top choice for transfer students, online learners and adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
4,444
Completions By Degree
1,820
Est. Online Degree Offerings
100%
Private Colleges & Universities Offering Degrees Near Bakersfield, California
There are at least 3 schools offering degrees near Bakersfield, California, and 3 are four-year private colleges or universities where about 5,233 undergraduate students were enrolled. In 2022, a total of 1,973 degrees were completed at private colleges and universities, including 1,830 that were offered online.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Franklin offers more than 50 online bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctoral programs in the Bakersfield, California area. Franklin University is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are adults and all programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Franklin University. In 2022, 1,011 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 94 associate degrees, 676 master's degrees, and 39 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
4,444
Completions By Degree
1,820
Est. Online Degree Availability
100%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
California Aeronautical University is an institutionally accredited for profit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are a mixture of traditional and adult aged and minimal programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at California Aeronautical University. In 2022, 33 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 1 associate degree, 4 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
292
Completions By Degree
38
Est. Online Degree Availability
26%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Thomas Aquinas College is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and no programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Thomas Aquinas College. In 2022, 115 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 0 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
497
Completions By Degree
115
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Public Colleges & Universities Near Bakersfield, California
There is 1 four-year public college located near Bakersfield, California. About 8,870 students were enrolled in undergraduate programs, and about 2,834 degrees were completed at public colleges near Bakersfield. Tuition shown reflects in-state rates.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
California State University-Bakersfield is an institutionally accredited public 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and minimal programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at California State University-Bakersfield. In 2022, 2,367 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 461 master's degrees, and 6 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
8,870
Completions By Degree
2,834
Est. Online Degree Availability
16%
Completions by Program Area
Community Colleges Near Bakersfield, California
There are 4 community colleges near Bakersfield, California where students can earn 2-year associate degrees. In 2022, about 32,503 students were enrolled in undergraduate courses at community colleges near Bakersfield, and about 8,751 associate degrees were completed.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Bakersfield College is an institutionally accredited 2-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and no programs completed were offered online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
16,900
Completions By Degree
5,356
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Taft College is an institutionally accredited 2-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are a mixture of traditional and adult aged and minimal programs completed were offered online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
3,208
Completions By Degree
556
Est. Online Degree Availability
5%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Porterville College is an institutionally accredited 2-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and some programs completed were offered online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
2,725
Completions By Degree
654
Est. Online Degree Availability
39%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Antelope Valley Community College District is an institutionally accredited 2-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are a mixture of traditional and adult aged and no programs completed were offered online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
9,670
Completions By Degree
2,185
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Affordable Colleges Near Bakersfield, California
Wondering what you can expect to pay for a degree near Bakersfield, California? According to undergraduate tuition data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, the average tuition at Bakersfield-area's 4-year nonprofit schools is $18,289. The average tuition at similar 4-year for-profit schools near Bakersfield is $33,037, while tuition at 2-year online colleges and universities is N/A.
4-Year Nonprofit
4-Year For-Profit
2-Year
Accredited Colleges Serving Bakersfield, California
Earning a college degree is an investment — and earning a degree from an institutionally accredited university is one of the best ways to ensure your education is of high quality. Institutionally accredited universities are held to rigorous standards by state and regional bodies and undergo regular reviews to verify that their processes and academic programs meet the proper standards.
Wondering if a certain college or university offering degree programs in Bakersfield, California is institutionally accredited? View a list of institutionally accredited colleges and universities serving Bakersfield, California here. We've made it easy to find your school by breaking down the list by school type.
- Franklin University
- Thomas Aquinas College
- Bakersfield College
- Taft College
- Porterville College
- Antelope Valley Community College District
- California Aeronautical University
Bakersfield, California Job Market & Opportunities
What happens after you earn your college degree in Bakersfield? What's the Bakersfield, California job market outlook? Get a snapshot of jobs and careers, including annual job openings, median earnings and more.
In 2022, there were about 7,766,539 jobs in the Bakersfield, California area. From 2021-2022, job growth in Bakersfield was above the national average, at 4.2%. There were 1,017,826 job openings in the area. In terms of earnings, workers in Bakersfield do better than the national average, with an average hourly pay of $20.68.