2023 Most Popular Online Trade Schools in California
There are so many trade school programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Trade College Search has created the Most Popular Online Trade Schools in California to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 35 schools in California to see which ones had the most popular online programs for trade school students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from schools with online programs.
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Most Popular Online Trade School Schools in California
Learn more about these popular schools with online programs:
Our analysis found Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts to be the most popular school for trade school students in California. Located in San Mateo, California, the small private for-profit school awarded 1,423 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $15,681 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $178, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $52,087 during the early year of their career. Around 82% of those degree recipients were women.
The programs at The University of Arizona Global Campus helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular trade school schools in California. UAGC is located in San Diego, California and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 9,522 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $34,390 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, UAGC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $38,029 during the early year of their career. Around 67% of those degree recipients were women.
The programs at National University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular trade school schools in California. Located in San Diego, California, the fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 6,315 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $33,607 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $294, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, National University graduates make an average of $58,580 annually. Around 68% of those degree recipients were women.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Unitek College is a great place for trade school students. Unitek College is a small private for-profit school located in Fremont, California that handed out 2,114 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,845 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $165, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Unitek College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $49,641 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 88% were women.
Out of the 35 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in Visalia, California, the small private for-profit school awarded 1,226 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,460 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $132, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $39,446 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 75% were women.
Saddleback College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Trade Schools in California ranking. Saddleback College is a fairly large public school located in Mission Viejo, California that handed out 7,512 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Saddleback College accumulate an average of $8,110 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Saddleback College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $73,348 during the early year of their career. Around 58% of those degree recipients were women.
Carrington College, Sacramento landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Carrington College, Sacramento is located in Sacramento, California and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,150 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $17,149 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $134. During the early years of their career, Carrington College, Sacramento graduates make an average of $39,519 annually. Around 91% of those degree recipients were women.
Academy of Art University ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Online Trade Schools in California list. San Francisco, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 1,516 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $61,127 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $944 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Academy of Art University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $35,075 during the early year of their career. Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #9, Azusa Pacific University College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Located in San Dimas, California, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 427 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,856 in student loans. Around 78% of those degree recipients were women.
Santa Barbara City College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Trade Schools in California ranking. Santa Barbara City College is a fairly large public school located in Santa Barbara, California that handed out 3,767 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from SBCC accumulate an average of $17,141 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, SBCC graduates make an average of $53,400 annually. Around 64% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #11, Merced College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Merced College is a fairly large public school located in Merced, California that handed out 2,892 degrees in 2021-2022.
After graduating from Merced Community College District, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $54,460 during the early years of their career. Around 66% of those degree recipients were women.
California Institute of Arts & Technology landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. California Institute of Arts & Technology is a private for-profit institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 309 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $18,852 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from California Institute of Arts & Technology, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $38,294 during the early years of their career. Around 17% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #13, Laurus College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Laurus College is a very small private for-profit school situated in San Luis Obispo, California. It awarded 171 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Laurus College accumulate an average of $32,053 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Laurus College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $27,442 during the early year of their career. Around 42% of those degree recipients were women.
National Career College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. National Career College is a private for-profit institution located in Panorama City, California. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 204 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $7,758 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $36 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, National Career College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $31,018 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 80% were women.
San Bernardino Valley College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Trade Schools in California ranking. This fairly large public school is located in San Bernardino, California, and it awarded 2,876 degrees in 2021-2022.
After graduating from San Bernardino Valley College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,038 during the early years of their career. Around 65% of those degree recipients were women.
University of Antelope Valley landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. This very small private for-profit school is located in Lancaster, California, and it awarded 265 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,398 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $46 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, UAV graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $26,173 during the early year of their career. Around 48% of those degree recipients were women.
College of San Mateo did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #17 on the list. This medium-sized public school is located in San Mateo, California, and it awarded 982 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from CSM accumulate an average of $14,914 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, CSM graduates make an average of $56,787 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 52% were women.
Stanbridge University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #18 on the list. This small private for-profit school is located in Irvine, California, and it awarded 534 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $41,098 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $312 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Stanbridge, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $57,317 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 74% were women.
West Coast University - Orange County landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. West Coast University - Orange County is a small private for-profit school located in Anaheim, California that handed out 1,563 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $32,259 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $742 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from West Coast University - Orange County, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $79,576 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 80% were women.
Fremont College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #20 on the list. Fremont College is located in Cerritos, California and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 87 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $28,831 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Fremont College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $30,844 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 71% were women.
Touro University Worldwide ranked #21 on this year’s Most Popular Online Trade Schools in California list. TUW is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Alamitos, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 810 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from TUW accumulate an average of $27,331 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, TUW graduates make an average of $46,846 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 71% were women.
Loma Linda University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #22 on the list. Loma Linda, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 1,470 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $99,966 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $383 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Loma Linda University graduates make an average of $77,096 annually. Around 68% of those degree recipients were women.
Casa Loma College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Trade Schools in California ranking. Casa Loma College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Sherman Oaks, California. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 93 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Casa Loma College accumulate an average of $24,683 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Casa Loma College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $52,414 during the early year of their career. Around 56% of those degree recipients were women.
Platt College - Los Angeles ranked #24 on this year’s Most Popular Online Trade Schools in California list. Platt College - Los Angeles is a very small private for-profit school situated in Alhambra, California. It awarded 358 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Platt College - Los Angeles accumulate an average of $15,772 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $146. Once they receive their degree, Platt College - Los Angeles graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $29,682 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 86% were women.
Compton College landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Compton, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 990 students in 2021-2022.
Around 70% of those degree recipients were women.
Most Popular Online Trade School 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
- 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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