by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Bakersfield College first-year students return for their second year, and how many go on to graduate? Retention and graduation rates help you understand how students progress at Bakersfield College. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
Unfortunately, we don’t have access to data on the retention rate for Bakersfield College.
There were approximately 1740 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 19% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 24% of the students had graduated and after eight years 27% of this class completed their degree.
Any student who completes their bachelor's degree within six years is considered to have graduated on time, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This makes the offical Bakersfield College graduation rate 24%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1394 | 19% |
| Six Years | 1740 | 24% |
| Eight Years | 209 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 5354 | 73% |
The non-completers rate is anyone who is not still enrolled at the institution after eight years. Both transfer students and drop-outs could be included in this group.
Approximately 5354 students or 73% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 5354 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1527 transferred to another institution.
Bakersfield College lost contact with the remaining 3624 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1527 | 28.5% |
| Dropped Out | 3624 | 67.7% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 17% |
| Asian | 32% |
| Black / African-American | 8% |
| Hispanic | 21% |
| International | 42% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 29% |
| White | 32% |
Traditional first-time, full-time students under 25 tend to graduate in four years far more often than other students. Some schools serve mostly traditional students while others serve more 'non-traditional' students — part-timers or those returning after time away — who commonly take longer to finish.
Traditional Students:
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25.
Non-Traditional Students:
Any student that is not first-time, full-time, and under the age of 25.
A meaningful share of students at Bakersfield College are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at Bakersfield College represent 32.84% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Bakersfield College graduation rate was 34%, and by the eight year mark, 37% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| Completions | Bakersfield College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 29% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 34% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 37% | 47.82% |
1502 first-time / full-time students or 63% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
70 are still enrolled.
360 transferred to another institution.
Bakersfield College lost contact with the remaining 1072 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 70 | 4.66% |
| Transferred | 360 | 23.97% |
| Dropped Out | 1072 | 71.37% |
First-time / part-time students at Bakersfield College represent 35.86% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Bakersfield College graduation rate was 17%, and by the eight year mark, 20% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.
| Completions | Bakersfield College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 12% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 17% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 20% | 23.72% |
2087 first-time / part-time students or 80% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
88 are still enrolled.
427 transferred to another institution.
Bakersfield College lost contact with the remaining 1572 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 88 | 4.22% |
| Transferred | 427 | 20.46% |
| Dropped Out | 1572 | 75.32% |
Returning / full-time students at Bakersfield College represent 8.97% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Bakersfield College graduation rate was 31%, and by the eight year mark, 32% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Completions | Bakersfield College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 31% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 32% | 55.07% |
445 non first-time / part-time students or 68% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
16 are still enrolled.
195 transferred to another institution.
Bakersfield College lost contact with the remaining 234 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 16 | 3.60% |
| Transferred | 195 | 43.82% |
| Dropped Out | 234 | 52.58% |
Returning / part-time students at Bakersfield College represent 22.33% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Bakersfield College graduation rate was 17%, and by the eight year mark, 19% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 30.46% after four years, 36.03% after six years, and 37.80% after eight years.
| Completions | Bakersfield College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 13% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 17% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 19% | 37.80% |
1320 non first-time / part-time students or 81% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
29 are still enrolled.
545 transferred to another institution.
Bakersfield College lost contact with the remaining 746 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 29 | 2.20% |
| Transferred | 545 | 41.29% |
| Dropped Out | 746 | 56.52% |
