California State University-Bakersfield is 4.2 miles from Benton Park
No college sits inside Benton Park’s boundary, but California State University-Bakersfield’s campus in Bakersfield, with 8,308 students on campus, is 4.2 miles from the center of town, and Bakersfield College is 5.4 miles away in Bakersfield. About 7% of Benton Park’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as California (8%).
From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Benton Park. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Benton Park
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Benton Park
Three private colleges within 6.2 miles, one public college within 4.2 miles, and Bakersfield College 5.4 miles away.
Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.
What would your family pay?
The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $48–75k, where Benton Park’s median household income ($49,717) falls.
The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Benton Park: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Glendale Career College-North-West College-Bakersfield (5); San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield (14).
Questions about college near Benton Park
Is Benton Park a college town?
No. About 7 of every 100 Benton Park residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as California (8). The nearest campus, Glendale Career College-North-West College-Bakersfield, is 0.5 miles away in Bakersfield.
What colleges are near Benton Park?
Within 15 miles: Glendale Career College-North-West College-Bakersfield (0.5 miles, 387 students on campus), San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield (1.9 miles, 820), California State University-Bakersfield (4.2 miles, 8,308), Bakersfield College (5.4 miles, 23,108) and California Aeronautical University (6.2 miles, 378).
What is the closest community college to Benton Park, and what does it cost?
Bakersfield College in Bakersfield, 5.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,430 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $14,621, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does California State University-Bakersfield cost if we live in California?
Tuition and fees are $8,090 a year in-state and $20,690 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $3,536 (under $30,000 income) to $16,069 (over $110,000), housing and food included.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Benton Park. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →