Bakersfield College vs. Sierra College

Comparable Facts

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

Bakersfield College is larger than Sierra College based on total student enrollment (30,746 students vs. 19,125 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bakersfield College is located in Bakersfield, CA (Large City setting); Sierra College is in Rocklin, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Bakersfield College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Sierra College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bakersfield College 31:1; Sierra College 25:1.

Bakersfield College vs. Sierra College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bakersfield College or Sierra 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 Sierra College than Bakersfield College ($10,285 vs. $16,637).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sierra College are 43.7% lower than at Bakersfield College ($13,631 vs. $24,192).
• Sierra College is 1.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bakersfield College (about $16 more per year; $1,446.00 vs. $1,430.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 681.5% higher at Bakersfield College than at Sierra College (about $9,854 more per year; $11,300.00 vs. $1,446.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bakersfield College than at Sierra College (85% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bakersfield College students is 18.7% larger than aid received by Sierra College students ($5,940 vs. $5,006).

Bakersfield College vs. Sierra College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bakersfield College or Sierra 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 Sierra 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; Sierra College - Open admission.

Bakersfield College vs. Sierra College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bakersfield College and Sierra 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 Sierra College earn a median of about $1,200 more per year than Bakersfield College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,100 vs. $34,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Sierra College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bakersfield College students, three years after graduation. (32% 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.