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2023 Best Undergraduate 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.
The Best Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in California ranking is one of many tools that Trade College Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 66 schools in California to see which ones offered the best undergraduate certificate programs for trade school students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Trade Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Mt. San Antonio College the best school in California for trade school students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in Walnut, California, the large public school handed out 268 undergraduate certificate awards in 2021-2022.
Students from California who attend Mt. SAC full time pay an average of $1,352 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,096.
Mt. SAC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 10% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Cuesta College is a great place for trade school students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in San Luis Obispo, California, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,268 undergraduate certificate awards in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,340 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Cuesta College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $9,348.
One thing to take note of is that Cuesta College does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 75% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Out of the 66 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Napa Valley College landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in Napa, California, the small public school awarded 378 diplomas to qualifed undergraduate certificate students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $1,156 in tuition and fees if they attend Napa Valley College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,388.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Napa Valley College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 83% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means San Bernardino Valley College is a great place for trade school students working on their undergraduate certificate. San Bernardino Valley College is a public institution located in San Bernardino, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 352 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.
Students from California who attend San Bernardino Valley College full time pay an average of $744 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $5,057.
San Bernardino Valley College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2020-2021 about 91% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Butte College is a great place for trade school students working on their undergraduate certificate. Butte College is located in Oroville, California and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 271 undergraduate certificates to qualified students.
Students from California who attend Butte College full time pay an average of $1,336 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,816.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Butte College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 81% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Cabrillo College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in California list. This medium-sized public school is located in Aptos, California, and it awarded 238 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Cabrillo College is $1,262. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,630. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from Cabrillo College accumulate an average of $19,778 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Cabrillo College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 88% took at least some of their classes online.
Santa Barbara City College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in California list. This fairly large public school is located in Santa Barbara, California, and it awarded 1,058 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at SBCC is $1,234. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,322.
Some students may be able to take online classes at SBCC. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 80% took at least some of their classes online.
Merced College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best undergraduate certificate trade school programs. Merced College is a fairly large public school located in Merced, California that handed out 990 undergraduate 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. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,890.
Merced Community College District does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 89% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
West Hills College-Coalinga came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in California ranking. West Hills College-Coalinga is a small public school located in Coalinga, California that handed out 332 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $9,262 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at West Hills College-Coalinga. In fact, around 78% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Canada College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #10 on the list. Redwood City, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out undergraduate certificates to 84 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.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Canada College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 92% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Yuba College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #11 on the list. Yuba College is a medium-sized public school situated in Marysville, California. It awarded 499 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,128 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Yuba College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,488.
Yuba College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2020-2021 about 79% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
MTI College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in California list. MTI College is located in Sacramento, California and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 526 undergraduate certificates to qualified students.
On average, undergraduate certificate students take out $7,769 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at MTI College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 58% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Modesto Junior College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #13 on the list. Modesto Junior College is a fairly large public school located in Modesto, California that handed out 205 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at MJC is $1,276. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,308.
One thing to take note of is that MJC does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 84% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Ventura College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #14 on the list. Ventura, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out undergraduate certificates to 1,212 students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Ventura College is $1,394. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,146.
Ventura College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2020-2021 about 91% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Foothill College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #15 on the list. This fairly large public school is located in Los Altos Hills, California, and it awarded 573 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Foothill College is $1,565. Out-of-state students pay an average of $11,510.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Foothill College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 73% took at least some of their classes online.
Empire College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best undergraduate certificate trade school programs. Empire College is a very small private for-profit school located in Santa Rosa, California that handed out 1 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.
On average, undergraduate certificate students take out $13,354 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Cypress College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #17 on the list. Located in Cypress, California, the fairly large public school handed out 1,310 undergraduate certificate awards in 2021-2022.
Students from California who attend Cypress College full time pay an average of $1,146 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,986.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Cypress College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 50% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #18, Palomar College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their undergraduate certificate. Palomar College is located in San Marcos, California and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,700 undergraduate certificates to qualified students.
Students from California who attend Palomar College full time pay an average of $1,348 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $10,644.
Palomar College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 88% took at least some of their classes online.
Crafton Hills College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in California ranking. CHC is located in Yucaipa, California and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 464 undergraduate certificates to qualified students.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at CHC is $1,182. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $9,942.
One thing to take note of is that CHC does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 78% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Victor Valley College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in California ranking. Victor Valley College is a fairly large public school situated in Victorville, California. It awarded 1,786 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.
Students from California who attend Victor Valley College full time pay an average of $1,425 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,125.
Online courses are available at Victor Valley College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 49% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Fresno City College landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best undergraduate certificate trade school programs. This large public school is located in Fresno, California, and it awarded 243 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.
Students from California who attend Fresno City College full time pay an average of $1,330 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,890.
One thing to take note of is that Fresno City College does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 88% took at least some of their classes online.
Reedley College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #22 on the list. Reedley College is located in Reedley, California and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 99 undergraduate certificates to qualified students.
Students from California who attend Reedley College full time pay an average of $1,330 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,890.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Reedley College does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 68% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #23, San Joaquin Delta College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their undergraduate certificate. Delta is a public institution located in Stockton, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 270 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.
Online courses are available at Delta, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 98% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #24, Sacramento City College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in Sacramento, California, the fairly large public school handed out 204 undergraduate certificate awards in 2021-2022.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Sacramento City. In fact, around 94% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
College of the Siskiyous landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best undergraduate certificate trade school programs. Located in Weed, California, the small public school handed out 84 undergraduate certificate awards in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at College of the Siskiyous is $1,444. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,844.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at College of the Siskiyous. During the 2020-2021 year, about 68% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Best Trade Undergraduate 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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