Best Online Engineering Programs in Bakersfield, CA (2026)
Bakersfield, California has a population of about 408,366. The city’s median household income is $77,397 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 23.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of Bakersfield, with tuition ranging from $1,409 to $12,522 per year. In the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $173,450 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Engineering Schools to Bakersfield
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from Bakersfield city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield College | Bakersfield, CA | 5.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Taft College | Taft, CA | 27.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Porterville College | Porterville, CA | 48.1 mi | $1,409 - $12,522 | – |
| Antelope Valley Community College District | Lancaster, CA | 67.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| College of the Sequoias | Visalia, CA | 69.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California engineering page.
Engineering Wages Near Bakersfield
Bakersfield is part of the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area (BLS area code 12540). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to California statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $98,160 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $97,284 |
| Electrical Engineer | $121,430 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $120,347 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $116,460 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $115,421 |
| Chemical Engineer | $135,820 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $134,609 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $127,900 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $126,759 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $125,700 | CA statewide | $124,579 |
| Environmental Engineer | $118,560 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $117,502 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $173,450 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $171,903 |
Source: BLS, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Bakersfield at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 408,366 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $77,397 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 23.3% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 100.9 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Engineering-related employment in Kern County | 3,192 workers, 246 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Bakersfield-Area Cities With Engineering Programs
- Shafter, CA – 12.6 mi away (20,183 pop)
- Arvin, CA – 15.9 mi away (21,380 pop)
- Wasco, CA – 25.0 mi away (26,337 pop)
- Delano, CA – 31.4 mi away (54,030 pop)
- Porterville, CA – 49.1 mi away (76,512 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited engineering programs are near Bakersfield, CA?
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of Bakersfield. The closest is Bakersfield College in Bakersfield, CA (5.3 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is College of the Sequoias (69.0 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying engineering roles near Bakersfield?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles near Bakersfield are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($173,450), Chemical Engineer ($135,820), Aerospace Engineer ($127,900). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with California statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Shafter instead of Bakersfield?
Shafter, CA is 12.6 miles from Bakersfield and has its own set of local engineering programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Bakersfield an affordable place to study engineering?
Bakersfield’s median household income of $77,397 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Bakersfield while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and California public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Related Resources
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