Bakersfield College vs. West Valley College

Comparable Facts

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

Bakersfield College is larger than West Valley College based on total student enrollment (30,746 students vs. 7,655 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Bakersfield College vs. West Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bakersfield College or West Valley 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 West Valley College than Bakersfield College ($7,270 vs. $16,637).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bakersfield College are 31.6% lower than at West Valley College ($24,192 vs. $35,361).
• West Valley College is 4.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bakersfield College (about $60 more per year; $1,490.00 vs. $1,430.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 29.9% higher at Bakersfield College than at West Valley College (about $2,598 more per year; $11,300.00 vs. $8,702.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bakersfield College than at West Valley College (85% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bakersfield College students is 23.6% larger than aid received by West Valley College students ($5,940 vs. $4,806).

Bakersfield College vs. West Valley College Admissions comparison

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

Bakersfield College vs. West Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bakersfield College and West Valley 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 West Valley College earn a median of about $6,200 more per year than Bakersfield College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,100 vs. $34,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More West Valley College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bakersfield College students, three years after graduation. (45% 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.