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Best Trade Schools in California

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2023 Best Trade Schools in California

94 Schools Ranked
$44,172 Average Earnings
$33,361 Avg Student Debt

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 help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Trade College Search has developed this Best Trade Schools in California ranking. This report analyzed 94 schools in California to see which ones offered the best programs for trade school students.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Trade Schools in California

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

University of the Pacific

Stockton, California
1,840 Total Awards

Our analysis found University of the Pacific to be the best school for trade school students in California. Pacific is located in Stockton, California and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,840 degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on University of the Pacific

#2

National University

San Diego, California
6,315 Total Awards

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means National University is a great place for trade school students. National University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 6,315 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#3

West Hills College-Lemoore

Lemoore, California
1,479 Total Awards

Out of the 94 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, West Hills College-Lemoore landed the # 3 spot on the list. West Hills College-Lemoore is a small public school situated in Lemoore, California. It awarded 1,479 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on West Hills College-Lemoore

#4

Merced College

Merced, California
2,892 Total Awards

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Merced College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Trade Schools in California list. Merced Community College District is located in Merced, California and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,892 degrees to qualified students.

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#5

Santa Barbara City College

Santa Barbara, California
3,767 Total Awards

The excellent programs at Santa Barbara City College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade schools in California. Located in Santa Barbara, California, the fairly large public school handed out 3,767 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#6

Foothill College

Los Altos Hills, California
2,215 Total Awards

Foothill College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in California list. Los Altos Hills, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 2,215 students in 2021-2022.

Full Foothill College Report

#7

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
18,134 Total Awards

With a ranking of #7, University of Southern California did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. USC is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 18,134 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on University of Southern California

#8

Cuesta College

San Luis Obispo, California
4,702 Total Awards

Cuesta College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Cuesta College is a public institution located in San Luis Obispo, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 4,702 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Cuesta College Report

#9

Canada College

Redwood City, California
621 Total Awards

Canada College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in Redwood City, California, the medium-sized public school awarded 621 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Full Canada College Report

#10

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
10,875 Total Awards

San Diego State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in California list. This large public school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 10,875 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#11

The University of Arizona Global Campus

San Diego, California
9,522 Total Awards

The University of Arizona Global Campus ranked #11 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in California list. UAGC is a private for-profit institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9,522 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#12

Napa Valley College

Napa, California
1,005 Total Awards

Napa Valley College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in California list. Napa, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,005 students in 2021-2022.

Full Napa Valley College Report

#13

Mt. San Antonio College

Walnut, California
5,457 Total Awards

Mt. San Antonio College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #13 on the list. Mt. SAC is a public institution located in Walnut, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5,457 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Mt. San Antonio College

#14

Crafton Hills College

Yucaipa, California
1,462 Total Awards

Crafton Hills College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #14 on the list. CHC is a medium-sized public school situated in Yucaipa, California. It awarded 1,462 degrees in 2021-2022.

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6,956 Total Awards

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #15 on the list. Cal Poly Pomona is a large public school situated in Pomona, California. It awarded 6,956 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

#16

Gavilan College

Gilroy, California
1,198 Total Awards

Gavilan College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in California list. This small public school is located in Gilroy, California, and it awarded 1,198 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#17

Pacific Union College

Angwin, California
224 Total Awards

Pacific Union College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in California list. Located in Angwin, California, the very small private not-for-profit school awarded 224 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Full Pacific Union College Report

#18

Butte College

Oroville, California
2,241 Total Awards

Butte College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #18 on the list. Butte College is a public institution located in Oroville, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2,241 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Butte College

#19

Santa Rosa Junior College

Santa Rosa, California
5,856 Total Awards

With a ranking of #19, Santa Rosa Junior College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Located in Santa Rosa, California, the fairly large public school awarded 5,856 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Full Santa Rosa Junior College Report

#20

Cabrillo College

Aptos, California
2,615 Total Awards

With a ranking of #20, Cabrillo College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Cabrillo College is a medium-sized public school located in Aptos, California that handed out 2,615 degrees in 2021-2022.

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4,412 Total Awards

With a ranking of #21, California State University - Chico did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. This fairly large public school is located in Chico, California, and it awarded 4,412 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full California State University - Chico Report

232 Total Awards

California State University Maritime Academy came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in California ranking. This very small public school is located in Vallejo, California, and it awarded 232 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#23

Los Angeles City College

Los Angeles, California
2,807 Total Awards

With a ranking of #23, Los Angeles City College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Located in Los Angeles, California, the fairly large public school awarded 2,807 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Read More…

#24

San Joaquin Delta College

Stockton, California
4,179 Total Awards

San Joaquin Delta College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in California list. This fairly large public school is located in Stockton, California, and it awarded 4,179 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full San Joaquin Delta College Report

#25

San Bernardino Valley College

San Bernardino, California
2,876 Total Awards

San Bernardino Valley College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #25 on the list. San Bernardino Valley College is a fairly large public school situated in San Bernardino, California. It awarded 2,876 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full San Bernardino Valley College Report

Best Trade 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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