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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.
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. Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is a small private for-profit school situated in San Mateo, California. It awarded 1,423 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts accumulate an average of $15,681 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 $178. During the early years of their career, Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts graduates make an average of $52,087 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 82% were women.
Out of the 35 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Arizona Global Campus landed the # 2 spot on the list. This large private for-profit school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 9,522 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $34,390 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from UAGC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $38,029 during the early years of their career. Around 67% of those degree recipients were women.
Out of the 35 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, National University landed the # 3 spot on the list. National University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in San Diego, California that handed out 6,315 degrees 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. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $294. 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.
You’ll be in good company if you attend Unitek College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Most Popular Online Trade Schools in California list. This small private for-profit school is located in Fremont, California, and it awarded 2,114 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $12,845 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $165 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Unitek College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $49,641 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 88% were women.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia is a great place for trade school students. San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia is a small private for-profit school located in Visalia, California that handed out 1,226 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia accumulate an average of $14,460 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $132, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,446 during the early year of their career. Around 75% of those degree recipients were women.
Saddleback College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #6 on the list. This fairly large public school is located in Mission Viejo, California, and it awarded 7,512 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $8,110 in student loans. 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 did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #7 on the list. Carrington College, Sacramento is a private for-profit institution located in Sacramento, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,150 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $17,149 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $134 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. 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.
With a ranking of #8, Academy of Art University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. 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.
On average, students take out $61,127 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $944, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Academy of Art University graduates make an average of $35,075 annually. Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.
Azusa Pacific University College ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Online Trade Schools in California list. San Dimas, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 427 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $14,856 in loans while pursuing their degree. 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. SBCC is a public institution located in Santa Barbara, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 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.After graduating from SBCC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $53,400 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 64% were women.
With a ranking of #11, Merced College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Located in Merced, California, the fairly large public school handed out 2,892 degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, Merced Community College District graduates make an average of $54,460 annually. 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. Located in San Diego, California, the very small private for-profit school awarded 309 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from California Institute of Arts & Technology accumulate an average of $18,852 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, California Institute of Arts & Technology graduates make an average of $38,294 annually. Around 17% of those degree recipients were women.
Read full report on California Institute of Arts & Technology
Laurus College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Laurus College is a very small private for-profit school situated in San Luis Obispo, California. It awarded 171 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $32,053 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Laurus College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $27,442 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 42% were women.
With a ranking of #14, National Career College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. National Career College is a very small private for-profit school situated in Panorama City, California. It awarded 204 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $7,758 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $36, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, National Career College graduates make an average of $31,018 annually. 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. Located in San Bernardino, California, the fairly large public school awarded 2,876 diplomas to qualifed students 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 ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Online Trade Schools in California list. UAV is located in Lancaster, California and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 265 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from UAV accumulate an average of $13,398 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 $46. 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. College of San Mateo is a medium-sized public school located in San Mateo, California that handed out 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 ranked #18 on this year’s Most Popular Online Trade Schools in California 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. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $312, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Stanbridge graduates make an average of $57,317 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 74% were women.
With a ranking of #19, West Coast University - Orange County did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Located in Anaheim, California, the small private for-profit school awarded 1,563 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from West Coast University - Orange County accumulate an average of $32,259 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $742, assuming you 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 landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Cerritos, California is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 87 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $28,831 in student loans.After graduating from Fremont College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $30,844 during the early years of their career. Around 71% of those degree recipients were women.
Touro University Worldwide ranked #21 on this year’s Most Popular Online Trade Schools in California list. Touro University Worldwide is a small private not-for-profit school located in Los Alamitos, California that handed out 810 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $27,331 in student loans.After graduating from TUW, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $46,846 during the early years of their career. 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. Located in Loma Linda, California, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 1,470 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $99,966 in student loans. 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. Once they receive their degree, Loma Linda University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $77,096 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 68% were women.
Casa Loma College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Casa Loma College is located in Sherman Oaks, California and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 93 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,683 in student loans.After graduating from Casa Loma College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $52,414 during the early years of their career. Around 56% of those degree recipients were women.
Platt College - Los Angeles landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Located in Alhambra, California, the very small private for-profit school awarded 358 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $15,772 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $146, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. 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 came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Trade Schools in California ranking. 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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