California Aeronautical University

Bakersfield, CA · West

Known forFirst-gen friendly

Website Admissions Apply Virtual tour Financial aid

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 347 undergrads, where 46% receive Pell Grants, a high share compared to other colleges.

347

undergrads · larger than 16% of colleges

Diversity index

0.69

Pell Grant

46%

above the median

First generation

50%

above the median

Large suburb

More diverse · index 0.56 → 0.69 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew (93% of graduates). 8 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 89% of colleges. 25% of faculty are full-time. Spends $21,411 a year on instruction per student.

8 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 89% of colleges

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $37,863 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $13.6K more than the national median. The 71% who received grants paid $34,836 on average; the other 29% paid the full sticker price of $47,437.

20%

$37.9K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $13.6K above the national median

Full price: $47,437 a year; tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid: Little need-based aid above $110K; aid thins out for families above that income

Aid generosity

Limited

grants cover 20% of full price

Federal loans

61%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $38,361 ten years after enrolling, more than at 11% of colleges; 40% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 3.9 years of that salary.

40%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$38.4K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$30.7K

≈ $326/month for 10 years

Retention

69%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 48% → 30% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Diversity
More diverse
index 0.56 → 0.69

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

American University of Health Sciences

351 undergrads

Similar sizeAlso WestAlso private

Compare side-by-side

Arizona College of Nursing - Hartford

100% admit · 334 undergrads

Similar sizeAlso private

Compare side-by-side

South University-Tampa

388 undergrads

Similar sizeAlso private

Compare side-by-side

Denver College of Nursing-Houston

135 undergrads

Similar sizeAlso private

Compare side-by-side

Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

1
IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
2
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12
3
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
4
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
12
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
13
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
14
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
15
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
16
IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
17
IPEDS Outcome Measures survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12
18
California Aeronautical University (2026)
California Aeronautical University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 433420 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything