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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 analysis found Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts to be the most popular school for trade school students who want to pursue a undergraduate certificate in California. This small private for-profit school is located in San Mateo, California, and it awarded 796 undergraduate certificates 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. Of those students who received their degree, 88% were women.

In 2020-2021 about 31% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#2

San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia

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

The excellent undergraduate certificate programs at San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular trade school schools in California. 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.

Undergraduate Certificate recipients from San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia accumulate an average of $10,498 in student debt by the time they complete 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 full report on San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia

#3

Carrington College, Sacramento

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

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Carrington College, Sacramento. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Online Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in California list. Sacramento, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out undergraduate certificates to 769 students in 2021-2022.

By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,445 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 93% were women.

To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 71% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Full Carrington College, Sacramento Report

#4

National Career College

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

You’ll be in good company if you attend National Career College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Most Popular Online Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in California list. National Career College is a very small private for-profit school situated in Panorama City, California. It awarded 177 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.

On average, undergraduate certificate students take out $7,758 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 81% of those degree recipients 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.

Read full report on National Career College

#5

College of San Mateo

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

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend College of San Mateo. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Online Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in California 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. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $9,552. Around 41% of those degree recipients were women.

Around 76% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

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. San Bernardino Valley College is located in San Bernardino, California and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 352 undergraduate certificates to qualified students.

In-state students pay an average of $744 in tuition and fees if they attend San Bernardino Valley College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $5,057. Around 35% of those degree recipients were women.

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

Full San Bernardino Valley College Report

#7

University of Antelope Valley

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

University of Antelope Valley ranked #7 on this year’s Most Popular Online Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in California list. This very small private for-profit school is located in Lancaster, California, and it awarded 103 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.

By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $8,827 in student loans. 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.

Read More…

#8

Fremont College

Cerritos, California
16 Total Awards

Fremont College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular undergraduate certificate trade school programs. This very small private for-profit school is located in Cerritos, California, and it awarded 16 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.

Of those students who received their degree, 75% 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 More…

#9

Santa Barbara City College

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

With a ranking of #9, Santa Barbara City College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their undergraduate certificate. This fairly large public school is located in Santa Barbara, California, and it awarded 1,058 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.

Students from California who attend SBCC full time pay an average of $1,234 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,322. Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.

Around 80% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Santa Barbara City College

#10

Santa Monica College

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

Santa Monica College ranked #10 on this year’s Most Popular Online Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in California list. Santa Monica College is a large public school located in Santa Monica, California that handed out 3,407 undergraduate certificates in 2021-2022.

Students from California who attend SMC full time pay an average of $1,150 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,094. Around 58% of those degree recipients were women.

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

Full Santa Monica College Report

$5,465 Avg Student Debt

With a ranking of #10, Institute of Culinary Education - Los Angeles did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their undergraduate certificate.

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.

During the 2020-2021 year, about 7% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#10

Compton College

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

Compton College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in California ranking. Compton College is located in Compton, California and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 240 undergraduate certificates to qualified students.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Compton College is $1,142. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,822. Of those students who received their degree, 70% were women.

In 2020-2021 about 57% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Compton College

#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. Merced Community College District is a fairly large public school situated in Merced, California. 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. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,890. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.

In 2020-2021 about 89% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#10

Academy of Art University

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

Academy of Art University 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.

The average tuition and fees at Academy of Art University is $26,728. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid.

Since Academy of Art University is primarily an online school, it is an excellent choice for undergraduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.

Full Academy of Art University Report

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

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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.

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