Best Online Healthcare 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. Our directory has 70 accredited schools offering healthcare programs near Bakersfield, with tuition ranging from $1,409 to $12,522 per year for indexed programs. In the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area, the top-earning healthcare-related role is Medical and Health Services Manager at a median $128,360 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Healthcare Schools to Bakersfield
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 70 schools in our directory that offer healthcare programs near Bakersfield. Distances are calculated from Bakersfield city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glendale Career College-North-West College-Bakersfield | Bakersfield, CA | 0.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield | Bakersfield, CA | 1.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| UEI College-Bakersfield | Bakersfield, CA | 2.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Milan Institute-Bakersfield | Bakersfield, CA | 2.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| California State University-Bakersfield | Bakersfield, CA | 3.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Bakersfield College | Bakersfield, CA | 5.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Taft College | Taft, CA | 27.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Delano | Delano, CA | 31.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Porterville College | Porterville, CA | 48.1 mi | $1,409 - $12,522 | – |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Porterville | Porterville, CA | 49.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California healthcare page.
Healthcare 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical and Health Services Manager | $128,360 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $127,215 |
| Health Information Technologist or Medical Registrar | $69,640 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $69,019 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $49,840 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $49,395 |
| Medical Secretary or Administrative Assistant | $45,850 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $45,441 |
| Healthcare Social Worker | $84,940 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $84,182 |
| Epidemiologist | $100,410 | CA statewide | $99,514 |
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 |
| Healthcare-related employment in Kern County | 47,178 workers, 13,352 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Bakersfield-Area Cities With Healthcare 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 healthcare schools are near Bakersfield, CA?
Our directory has 70 accredited schools offering healthcare programs near Bakersfield. The closest is Glendale Career College-North-West College-Bakersfield in Bakersfield, CA (0.9 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is San Joaquin Valley College-Porterville (49.7 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying healthcare roles near Bakersfield?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying healthcare-related roles near Bakersfield are: Medical and Health Services Manager ($128,360), Epidemiologist ($100,410), Healthcare Social Worker ($84,940). 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 healthcare 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 healthcare?
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
Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
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