Photo: Brittneal · CC BY-SA 4.0California Aeronautical University is 9.1 miles from Shafter
No college sits inside Shafter’s boundary, but California Aeronautical University’s campus in Bakersfield, with 378 students on campus, is 9.1 miles from the center of town, and Bakersfield College is 13.7 miles away in Bakersfield. About 7% of Shafter’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 Shafter. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Shafter
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Shafter
Three private colleges within 13.4 miles, one public college within 10.5 miles, and Bakersfield College 13.7 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 Shafter’s median household income ($71,215) 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 Shafter: 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: San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield (14); Glendale Career College-North-West College-Bakersfield (5).
Questions about college near Shafter
Is Shafter a college town?
No. About 7 of every 100 Shafter residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as California (8). The nearest campus, California Aeronautical University, is 9.1 miles away in Bakersfield.
What colleges are near Shafter?
Within 15 miles: California Aeronautical University (9.1 miles, 378 students on campus), California State University-Bakersfield (10.5 miles, 8,308), San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield (11.7 miles, 820), Glendale Career College-North-West College-Bakersfield (13.4 miles, 387) and Bakersfield College (13.7 miles, 23,108).
What is the closest community college to Shafter, and what does it cost?
Bakersfield College in Bakersfield, 13.7 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 Shafter. 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 →