ARC vs. Bakersfield College

Comparable Facts

Compare American River College in Sacramento, CA with Bakersfield College in Bakersfield, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bakersfield College is larger than ARC based on total student enrollment (30,746 students vs. 30,462 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• American River College is located in Sacramento, CA (Large Suburban setting); Bakersfield College is in Bakersfield, CA (Large City setting).
• American River College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Bakersfield College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: American River College 29:1; Bakersfield College 31:1.

ARC vs. Bakersfield College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ARC or Bakersfield College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at American River College than Bakersfield College ($9,488 vs. $16,637).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American River College are 8.7% lower than at Bakersfield College ($22,086 vs. $24,192).
• Bakersfield College is 11% more expensive for in-state tuition than ARC (about $142 more per year; $1,430.00 vs. $1,288.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.6% higher at ARC than at Bakersfield College (about $1,316 more per year; $12,616.00 vs. $11,300.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at American River College than at Bakersfield College (89% vs. 85%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bakersfield College students is 8.9% larger than aid received by American River College students ($5,940 vs. $5,456).

ARC vs. Bakersfield College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ARC or Bakersfield College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Bakersfield College and ARC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ARC - Open admission; Bakersfield College - Open admission.

ARC vs. Bakersfield College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ARC and Bakersfield College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from American River College earn a median of about $1,700 more per year than Bakersfield College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,600 vs. $34,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bakersfield College graduates have a $3,278 lower median loan debt than ARC graduates ($8,955 vs. $12,233).
• Among borrowers, Bakersfield College graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ARC graduates ($92 vs. $126).
• More ARC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bakersfield College students, three years after graduation. (26% vs. 26%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.