Private For-Profit Graduate Fair 50/100

California Aeronautical University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Bakersfield, California

About California Aeronautical University

California Aeronautical University is a private for-profit institution offering graduate degrees based in Bakersfield, California. It enrolls 347 students (a very small, intimate student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Acceptance
Graduation
42.2%
Net Price
$36,126
Median Earnings (10yr)
$38,361
Enrollment
347
Student : Faculty
14:1

Accreditor Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges
Academic Calendar Quarter

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Fair
50/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes 43
Value 7
Affordability 32
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

Admissions data is not yet reported for California Aeronautical University.

Acceptance Rate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending California Aeronautical University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $36,126 per year. That's above the typical net price for private for-profit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$36,126
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
46%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
61%
Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees
$37,667
Room & Board (on-campus)
$8,850
Room & Board (off-campus)
$17,178
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,284
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,216
Total Cost of Attendance
$46,233

Application fee: $100 (one-time, due at submission)


Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

  • Under $30,000
    $35,535
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $28,863
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $35,669
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $39,250
  • Over $110,000
    $43,076

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$2,323
10% percentile
$5,343
25% percentile
$30,705
Median percentile
$24,590
75% percentile
$33,292
90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $14,684 ↓ $16,021
No Pell $9,418 ↓ $21,287
Dependent students $14,264 ↓ $16,441
Independent students $10,690 ↓ $20,015
Pell recipients: 29.9% (9,191 students)No Pell: 19.2% (5,895 students)Dependent students: 29.1% (8,928 students)Independent students: 21.8% (6,691 students)Overall Median$30,705
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,418, less than completers ($30,705), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

42% of full-time students who enrolled at California Aeronautical University graduate within six years, and 66% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
42%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
66%
Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered California Aeronautical University earn a median of $38,361 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$38,361
Earning > $25K
63%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$37,000$37,500$38,500$39,500$40,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates
$31,000

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$41,200

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $10,200, about 25% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt 12.5 pts across 6 years
33%1yr38.6%3yr33.2%5yr45.5%7yr
What this signals: Concerning. Only 46% of graduates are actively reducing principal even seven years out.

Who Studies Here

California Aeronautical University is home to 347 students, an intimate, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 50% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled
347
Part-Time
0%
First-Generation
50%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 39.5% 137
White 36.6% 127
Asian 10.4% 36
Other 6.9% 24
Black 6.1% 21
Hispanic: 39.5% (137 students)White: 36.6% (127 students)Asian: 10.4% (36 students)Other: 6.9% (24 students)Black: 6.1% (21 students)Total347

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at California Aeronautical University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Large Suburb Bakersfield, California
Housing
Mostly residential 221 beds on campus
Adult Learners
51% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Quarter scheduling structure

What You Can Study

California Aeronautical University offers a focused set of programs: 4 distinct programs across 2 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

3 Programs
1 Program

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at California Aeronautical University is 14:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty
14:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Avg Faculty Salary
$52,974
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

14 instructional faculty across 1 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank Faculty Count Share Avg Salary
Instructors 14 100% $52,974

Pros & Cons of California Aeronautical University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how California Aeronautical University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Reasonable class sizes
  • Tight-knit, close community feel
  • Wide reach of need-based federal aid
  • First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
  • High net price compared to most US colleges
  • Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
  • Below-average completion rate
  • First-year retention is below typical
  • Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Best for: Based on the data, California Aeronautical University is a fit for students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.

Frequently Asked Questions about California Aeronautical University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about California Aeronautical University.

How much does California Aeronautical University cost?
The average net price after aid at California Aeronautical University is $36,126 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is California Aeronautical University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $38,361 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $36,126 per year. That's roughly 1.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is California Aeronautical University known for?
California Aeronautical University is best known for its programs in Air Transportation, Vehicle Maintenance, Air Transportation. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do California Aeronautical University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering California Aeronautical University are $38,361, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is California Aeronautical University accredited?
Yes. California Aeronautical University is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.
How many students attend California Aeronautical University?
California Aeronautical University enrolls 347 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at California Aeronautical University?
California Aeronautical University graduates 42% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is California Aeronautical University a public or private college?
California Aeronautical University is a Private For-Profit institution.
Where is California Aeronautical University located?
California Aeronautical University is located in Bakersfield, California.
What programs does California Aeronautical University offer?
California Aeronautical University offers 4 distinct programs. The most popular include Air Transportation, Vehicle Maintenance, Air Transportation.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at California Aeronautical University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at California Aeronautical University is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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