Find Trade Colleges

Most Popular Online Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in California

2023 Most Popular Online Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in California

14 Schools Ranked
$4,795 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$9,678 Avg Student Debt

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 Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in California to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 14 schools in California to see which online undergraduate certificate programs were the most popular for trade school students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from schools with online programs.

Learn more about these popular schools with online programs:

#1

Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts

San Mateo, California
796 Total Awards
$13,545 Avg Student Debt

Our 2023 rankings named Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts the most popular school in California for trade school students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in San Mateo, California, the small private for-profit school awarded 796 diplomas to qualifed undergraduate certificate students in 2021-2022.

By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,545 in student loans. Around 88% of those degree recipients were women.

During the 2020-2021 year, about 31% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts

#2

San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia

Visalia, California
605 Total Awards
$10,498 Avg Student Debt

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Popular Online Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in California list. San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia is a private for-profit institution located in Visalia, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 605 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.

On average, undergraduate certificate students take out $10,498 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 74% were women.

In 2020-2021 about 70% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#3

Carrington College, Sacramento

Sacramento, California
769 Total Awards
$11,445 Avg Student Debt

You’ll be in good company if you attend Carrington College, Sacramento. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Online Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in California list. Carrington College, Sacramento is a small private for-profit school situated in Sacramento, California. It awarded 769 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.

On average, undergraduate certificate students take out $11,445 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 93% of those degree recipients were women.

Around 71% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Carrington College, Sacramento

#4

National Career College

Panorama City, California
177 Total Awards
$7,758 Avg Student Debt

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend National Career College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Online Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in California list. Located in Panorama City, California, the very small private for-profit school handed out 177 undergraduate certificate awards in 2021-2022.

Undergraduate Certificate recipients from National Career College accumulate an average of $7,758 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 81% were women.

Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out National Career College. Every undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.

Full National Career College Report

#5

College of San Mateo

San Mateo, California
79 Total Awards
$1,376 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 14 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, College of San Mateo landed the # 5 spot on the list. CSM is located in San Mateo, California and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 79 undergraduate certificates to qualified students.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at CSM is $1,376. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,552. Of those students who received their degree, 41% were women.

Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 76% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on College of San Mateo

#5

San Bernardino Valley College

San Bernardino, California
352 Total Awards
$744 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means San Bernardino Valley College is a great place for trade school students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in San Bernardino, California, the fairly large public school handed out 352 undergraduate certificate awards 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. Of those students who received their degree, 35% were women.

Around 91% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read More…

#7

University of Antelope Valley

Lancaster, California
103 Total Awards
$8,827 Avg Student Debt

University of Antelope Valley landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular undergraduate certificate trade school programs. UAV is located in Lancaster, California and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 103 undergraduate certificates to qualified students.

Undergraduate Certificate recipients from UAV accumulate an average of $8,827 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 58% were women.

Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 17% took at least some of their classes online.

Full University of Antelope Valley Report

#8

Fremont College

Cerritos, California
16 Total Awards

With a ranking of #8, Fremont College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in Cerritos, California, the very small private for-profit school awarded 16 diplomas to qualifed undergraduate certificate students in 2021-2022.

Around 75% of those degree recipients were women.

Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out Fremont College. Every undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.

Read full report on Fremont College

#9

Santa Barbara City College

Santa Barbara, California
1,058 Total Awards
$1,234 Average Tuition & Fees

Santa Barbara City College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular undergraduate certificate trade school programs. Located in Santa Barbara, California, the fairly large public school awarded 1,058 diplomas to qualifed undergraduate certificate students 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. Around 65% of those degree recipients were women.

Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 80% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Santa Barbara City College Report

#10

Santa Monica College

Santa Monica, California
3,407 Total Awards
$1,150 Average Tuition & Fees

Santa Monica College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #10 on the list. SMC is a public institution located in Santa Monica, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3,407 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.

Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,150 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend SMC. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,094. Around 58% of those degree recipients were women.

To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 70% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Santa Monica College

$5,465 Avg Student Debt

Institute of Culinary Education - Los Angeles landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular undergraduate certificate trade school programs.

Undergraduate Certificate recipients from Institute of Culinary Education - Los Angeles accumulate an average of $5,465 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

In 2020-2021 about 7% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#10

Compton College

Compton, California
240 Total Awards
$1,142 Average Tuition & Fees

Compton College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #10 on the list. Compton College is a small public school situated in Compton, California. It awarded 240 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.

Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,142 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Compton College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,822. Of those students who received their degree, 70% were women.

Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 57% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#10

Merced College

Merced, California
990 Total Awards
$1,194 Average Tuition & Fees

Merced College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular undergraduate certificate trade school programs. This fairly large public school is located in Merced, California, and it awarded 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. Out-of-state students pay an average of $7,890. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.

To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 89% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Merced College

#10

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, California
$26,728 Average Tuition & Fees

Academy of Art University ranked #10 on this year’s Most Popular Online Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in California list.

If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $26,728 to cover tuition and fees at Academy of Art University. The school does not offer an in-state discount.

If you are interested in distance education, Academy of Art University is an excellent choice, since the school is online.

Read More…

Most Popular Online Trade School Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Far Western US Region

View Most Popular Online Trade School Undergraduate Certificate Schools Nationwide >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 14 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.

Find Trade Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited trade schools across the U.S.