California Aeronautical University
Bakersfield, CA 93308
About California Aeronautical University
California Aeronautical University is a private for-profit university in Bakersfield, California, enrolling about 347 students. California Aeronautical University awards degrees and certificates tracked in federal College Scorecard and IPEDS reporting. Published tuition for full-time study is about $37,667 per year before aid; net price varies by family income. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $38,361 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- California Aeronautical University charges about 2.3× the national private for-profit median tuition ($37,667).
- Versus the California median, sticker tuition is about 4.7×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 30.19%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $38,361.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Aeronautical University | $37,667 | $36,126 | 1 |
| Private For-profit (national median) | $16,637 | — | 477 |
| California (state median) | $8,093 | $8,343 | 287 |
| Rural (locale median) | $14,160 | $18,700 | 1,649 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
Average net price is 4% below published tuition at California Aeronautical University
Key findings
- California Aeronautical University's average net price ($36,126) is 4% below published tuition ($37,667).
- California Aeronautical University charges about 2.3× the national private for-profit median tuition ($37,667).
- Versus the California median, sticker tuition is about 4.7×.
California Aeronautical University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $37,667
Finding California Aeronautical University charges about 2.3× the national private for-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $37,667. That is about 2.3× the national private for-profit median ($16,637). Versus the California median ($8,093), sticker tuition is about 4.7×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 3.2×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private for-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at California Aeronautical University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at California Aeronautical University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at California Aeronautical University is $36,126.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $36,126 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $27,783 above the California median net price. Versus rural campuses, net price runs $17,426 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway California Aeronautical University’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 4% lower after grants and scholarships.
California Aeronautical University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for California Aeronautical University—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$37,667
Avg. net price
$36,126
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $35,535 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $28,863 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $35,669 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $39,250 |
| $110,001+ | $43,076 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $150,668. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What California Aeronautical University is known for
Top program completions
- Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew46
- Airframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician6
- Aviation/Airway Management and Operations2
See earnings & programs for more.
Is California Aeronautical University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
California Aeronautical University is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for California Aeronautical University.
Campus
Location
Bakersfield, CA
City / state
- ZIP
- 93308
- NCES locale
- Rural fringe
Compared with Rural campuses nationally, net price is about 1.9× the median for Rural campuses ($18,700 median).
Control
Institution type
Private For-profit
Control
- Region
- Far West
- Carnegie
- Special Focus Four-Year: Other Special Focus Institutions
Size
Enrollment
347
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 553
- Graduate
- 3
- Full-time share
- 100%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$30,705
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 46.31%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for California Aeronautical University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at California Aeronautical University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for California Aeronautical University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $12,580 | $12,580 | $21,538 |
| 2014 | $13,663 | $13,663 | $16,957 |
| 2015 | $13,708 | $13,708 | $19,627 |
| 2016 | $13,690 | $13,690 | $16,554 |
| 2017 | $10,000 | $10,000 | $17,909 |
| 2018 | $43,943 | $43,943 | $52,062 |
| 2019 | $31,716 | $31,716 | $35,333 |
| 2020 | $31,716 | $31,716 | $34,143 |
| 2021 | $30,331 | $30,331 | $36,929 |
| 2022 | $33,037 | $33,037 | $41,102 |
| 2023 | $35,465 | $35,465 | $38,205 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Admissions funnel data is not available for this institution.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
California Aeronautical University reported total enrollment of about 347 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 87% male and 13% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Hispanic or Latino (39.5%), White (36.6%), and Asian (10.4%). About 46.31% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 50.0% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
100.0% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at California Aeronautical University in 2024 is 347 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 553 students. Graduate enrollment is about 3 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
69.2%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
4.35% 100% Completion Time
30.19% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 4.35% of students graduating from California Aeronautical University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew: 91% male / 9% female
- Airframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician: 100% male / 0% female
- Aviation/Airway Management and Operations: 0% male / 100% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
California Aeronautical University graduates earn a median of $38,361 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of California Aeronautical University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $38,361. Median federal loan debt: $30,705. Average net price used in cost models: $36,126.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway California Aeronautical University graduates report median earnings of $38,361 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for California Aeronautical University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 3 programs by IPEDS completions (4 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at California Aeronautical University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for California Aeronautical University graduates.
Institutional resources
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for California Aeronautical University—instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 25.3%
- California median 14.0 pp below median (39.3%)
- Far West median 20.4 pp below median (45.7%)
- U.S. median 32.6 pp below median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $6,232
- California median 0.61× the median ($10,166)
- Far West median 0.65× the median ($9,635)
- U.S. median 0.82× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $21,411
- California median 3.3× the median ($6,474)
- Far West median 3.0× the median ($7,030)
- U.S. median 2.9× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
California Aeronautical University at a glance
California Aeronautical University
California Aeronautical University is a private for-profit institution in Bakersfield, CA, classified as Special Focus Four-Year: Other Special Focus Institutions.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight CrewAirframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technology/TechnicianAviation/Airway Management and Operations
- Largest enrollment groups
- Hispanic or Latino39.5%White or Caucasian36.6%Asian10.4%
Schools near California Aeronautical University
Other campuses in Bakersfield, CA when available, plus nearby institutions in California.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade D) within California, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is California Aeronautical University located?
California Aeronautical University is located in Bakersfield, CA.
What is California Aeronautical University's tuition?
California Aeronautical University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $37,667 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $36,126 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does California Aeronautical University cost?
Reported tuition is $37,667 and average net price is $36,126 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $8,850 annually.
Why is California Aeronautical University's net price so much lower than tuition?
At California Aeronautical University, published tuition is $37,667 while average net price is $36,126—about 4% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains California Aeronautical University's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($36,126), completion (30.2% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($38,361). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at California Aeronautical University?
California Aeronautical University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 553 students, Hispanic or Latino (39.5%), White (36.6%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend California Aeronautical University?
About 50.0% of students at California Aeronautical University are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of California Aeronautical University earn?
Median earnings are $37,182 six years after entry and $38,361 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at California Aeronautical University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 30.2% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do California Aeronautical University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $30,705.
Is California Aeronautical University public or private?
California Aeronautical University is a private for-profit institution located in Bakersfield, CA.
Is California Aeronautical University an HBCU?
No. California Aeronautical University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.