Bakersfield College vs. SBCC

Comparable Facts

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

Bakersfield College is larger than SBCC based on total student enrollment (30,746 students vs. 12,334 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bakersfield College is located in Bakersfield, CA (Large City setting); Santa Barbara City College is in Santa Barbara, CA (Small City setting).
• Bakersfield College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Barbara City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bakersfield College 31:1; Santa Barbara City College 24:1.

Bakersfield College vs. SBCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bakersfield College or SBCC? 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 Santa Barbara City College than Bakersfield College ($14,186 vs. $16,637).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Barbara City College are 8.7% lower than at Bakersfield College ($22,086 vs. $24,192).
• Bakersfield College is 15.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than SBCC (about $190 more per year; $1,430.00 vs. $1,240.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.3% higher at Bakersfield College than at Santa Barbara City College (about $868 more per year; $11,300.00 vs. $10,432.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bakersfield College than at Santa Barbara City College (85% vs. 41%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bakersfield College students is 0.9% larger than aid received by Santa Barbara City College students ($5,940 vs. $5,889).

Bakersfield College vs. SBCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bakersfield College or SBCC? 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 SBCC 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; SBCC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SBCC Aug 19, 2027.

Bakersfield College vs. SBCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bakersfield College and SBCC? 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 Santa Barbara City College earn a median of about $5,500 more per year than Bakersfield College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,400 vs. $34,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bakersfield College graduates have a $545 lower median loan debt than SBCC graduates ($8,955 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, Bakersfield College graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SBCC graduates ($92 vs. $98).
• More SBCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bakersfield College students, three years after graduation. (39% 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.