Head-to-head comparison
Bakersfield College vs California State University-Bakersfield: which has better ROI?
Option A Bakersfield, CA
Bakersfield College
- Net price / year
- $14,621
- Earnings, 10 years
- $37,291
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Bakersfield, CA
California State University-Bakersfield
- Net price / year
- $5,652
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,009
- Payback
- 2.1 yrs
California State University-Bakersfield has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $22,608 in 2.1 years versus not at all at Bakersfield College, on median earnings of $59,009 vs $37,291 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bakersfield College | California State University-Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,621 | $5,652 |
| Total net cost | $29,242 | $22,608 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,291 | $59,009 |
| Median debt | $8,312 | $16,600 |
| Payback | — | 2.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$250,622 | $190,372 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Bakersfield College or California State University-Bakersfield?
California State University-Bakersfield, at $5,652 a year after aid versus $14,621 — a gap of $8,969 a year, or $6,634 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Bakersfield College or California State University-Bakersfield graduates earn more?
California State University-Bakersfield graduates report a median $59,009 ten years after entry, $21,718 more than the $37,291 at Bakersfield College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Bakersfield College or California State University-Bakersfield?
Bakersfield College: its completers carry a median $8,312 in federal loans versus $16,600 at California State University-Bakersfield, a difference of $8,288. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
50% of students finish at California State University-Bakersfield, against 21% at Bakersfield College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.