Bakersfield College vs. Cerritos College

Comparable Facts

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

Bakersfield College is larger than Cerritos College based on total student enrollment (30,746 students vs. 21,859 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bakersfield College is located in Bakersfield, CA (Large City setting); Cerritos College is in Norwalk, CA (Small City setting).
• Bakersfield College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Cerritos College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bakersfield College 31:1; Cerritos College 26:1.

Bakersfield College vs. Cerritos College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bakersfield College or Cerritos 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 Cerritos College than Bakersfield College ($4,325 vs. $16,637).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cerritos College are 8.7% lower than at Bakersfield College ($22,088 vs. $24,192).
• Bakersfield College is 4.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cerritos College (about $66 more per year; $1,430.00 vs. $1,364.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.2% higher at Cerritos College than at Bakersfield College (about $704 more per year; $12,004.00 vs. $11,300.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cerritos College than at Bakersfield College (89% vs. 85%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bakersfield College students is 0.3% larger than aid received by Cerritos College students ($5,940 vs. $5,925).

Bakersfield College vs. Cerritos College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bakersfield College or Cerritos 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 Cerritos College and Bakersfield College.

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

Bakersfield College vs. Cerritos College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bakersfield College and Cerritos 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 Cerritos College earn a median of about $100 more per year than Bakersfield College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,000 vs. $34,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cerritos College graduates have a $2,955 lower median loan debt than Bakersfield College graduates ($6,000 vs. $8,955).
• Among borrowers, Cerritos College graduates have an estimated $30 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bakersfield College graduates ($62 vs. $92).
• More Cerritos College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bakersfield College students, three years after graduation. (35% 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.