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2023 Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in California
It's not easy to decide which trade school program to enroll in when you have so many options available. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Trade College Search has created its Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in California ranking. Our analysis looked at 65 schools in California to see which basic certificate programs offered the best educational experiences for trade school students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Trade Basic Certificate Schools in California
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found National University to be the best school for trade school students who want to pursue a basic certificate in California.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at National University. During the 2020-2021 year, about 70% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Santa Barbara City College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in California list. SBCC is located in Santa Barbara, California and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 119 basic certificates to qualified students.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,234 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend SBCC. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,322.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at SBCC. In 2020-2021 about 80% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
The excellent basic certificate programs at Merced College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade school schools in California. This fairly large public school is located in Merced, California, and it awarded 287 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,194 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Merced Community College District. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,890.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Merced Community College District does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 89% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Crafton Hills College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in California list. Located in Yucaipa, California, the medium-sized public school handed out 216 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $1,182 in tuition and fees if they attend CHC full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,942.
Some students may be able to take online classes at CHC. In fact, around 78% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Cuesta College is a great place for trade school students working on their basic certificate. This medium-sized public school is located in San Luis Obispo, California, and it awarded 805 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $1,340 in tuition and fees if they attend Cuesta College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,348.
Cuesta College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 75% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Santa Rosa Junior College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. This fairly large public school is located in Santa Rosa, California, and it awarded 2,534 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $1,318 in tuition and fees if they attend SRJC full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,310.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at SRJC. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 85% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Butte College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in California list. Located in Oroville, California, the medium-sized public school awarded 777 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,336 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Butte College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,816.
Butte College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 81% took at least some of their classes online.
Los Angeles City College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #8 on the list. Los Angeles City College is a fairly large public school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 371 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,238 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Los Angeles City College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,870.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Los Angeles City College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 95% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #9, Canada College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Located in Redwood City, California, the medium-sized public school awarded 75 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
Students from California who attend Canada College full time pay an average of $1,362 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,006.
One thing to take note of is that Canada College does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 92% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
San Joaquin Delta College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in California list. Delta is located in Stockton, California and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 278 basic certificates to qualified students.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Delta. In 2020-2021 about 98% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Victor Valley College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in California ranking. Located in Victorville, California, the fairly large public school handed out 1,648 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $1,425 in tuition and fees if they attend Victor Valley College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,125.
One thing to take note of is that Victor Valley College does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 49% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Cabrillo College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in California list. Cabrillo College is a public institution located in Aptos, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 383 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,262 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Cabrillo College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,630.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Cabrillo College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 88% took at least some of their classes online.
University of Antelope Valley landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. UAV is located in Lancaster, California and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 62 basic certificates to qualified students.
UAV does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 17% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Palomar College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. This fairly large public school is located in San Marcos, California, and it awarded 844 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $1,348 in tuition and fees if they attend Palomar College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,644.
Palomar College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 88% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
College of the Sequoias did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #15 on the list. College of the Sequoias is a fairly large public school located in Visalia, California that handed out 773 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,394 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend College of the Sequoias. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,338.
College of the Sequoias does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 75% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #16, Mt. San Antonio College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Mt. SAC is located in Walnut, California and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,409 basic certificates to qualified students.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Mt. SAC is $1,352. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,096.
Online courses are available at Mt. SAC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2020-2021 year, about 10% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
West Hills College-Lemoore came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in California ranking. West Hills College-Lemoore is a small public school located in Lemoore, California that handed out 688 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at West Hills College-Lemoore. In 2020-2021 about 76% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
College of the Canyons landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. College of the Canyons is located in Santa Clarita, California and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 579 basic certificates to qualified students.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,162 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend College of the Canyons. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $9,322.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since College of the Canyons does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 69% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #19, MTI College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. MTI College is a very small private for-profit school located in Sacramento, California that handed out 131 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
MTI College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 58% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Foothill College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in California ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Los Altos Hills, California, and it awarded 568 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $1,565 in tuition and fees if they attend Foothill College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $11,510.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Foothill College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 73% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #21, Moorpark College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Moorpark, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 280 students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $1,394 in tuition and fees if they attend Moorpark College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,146.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Moorpark College. In 2020-2021 about 92% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Ventura College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in California list. Ventura College is a fairly large public school located in Ventura, California that handed out 519 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Students from California who attend Ventura College full time pay an average of $1,394 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,146.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Ventura College. In 2020-2021 about 91% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Cerritos College landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Located in Norwalk, California, the fairly large public school awarded 2,393 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $1,364 in tuition and fees if they attend Cerritos College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,324.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Cerritos College. In fact, around 78% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Empire College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #24 on the list.
Yuba College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in California list. Yuba College is a medium-sized public school located in Marysville, California that handed out 545 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Students from California who attend Yuba College full time pay an average of $1,128 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $7,488.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Yuba College. In 2020-2021 about 79% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Best Trade Basic Certificate Schools in the Far Western US Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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