2023 Most Popular 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. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Trade College Search has developed this Most Popular Trade Schools in California ranking. This report analyzed 444 schools in California to see which ones were the most popular programs for trade school students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.
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Most Popular Trade Schools in California
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our analysis found Unitek College to be the most popular school for trade school students in California. Unitek College is located in Fremont, California and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,114 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,845 in student loans. 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. Around 88% of those degree recipients were women.
Out of the 444 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts landed the # 2 spot on the list. Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is a private for-profit institution located in San Mateo, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,423 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $15,681 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $178 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $52,087 during the early years of their career. Around 82% of those degree recipients were women.
You’ll be in good company if you attend Sierra College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in California list. This fairly large public school is located in Rocklin, California, and it awarded 4,995 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,540 in student loans. Around 66% of those degree recipients were women.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Advanced Career Institute is a great place for trade school students. Visalia, California is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 1,671 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Advanced Career Institute accumulate an average of $6,241 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $39, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Advanced Career Institute, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $30,938 during the early years of their career. Around 11% of those degree recipients were women.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Carrington College, Sacramento is a great place for trade school students. Located in Sacramento, California, the small private for-profit school handed out 1,150 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $17,149 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $134, assuming you 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.
American Career College - Los Angeles ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in California list. American Career College - Los Angeles is a private for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 987 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $15,345 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $139, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, American Career College - Los Angeles graduates make an average of $37,752 annually. Around 80% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #7, National Holistic Institute did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Located in Emeryville, California, the small private for-profit school awarded 838 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $9,361 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $75 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from National Holistic Institute, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $22,470 during the early years of their career. Around 74% of those degree recipients were women.
Summit College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #8 on the list. Located in San Bernardino, California, the small private for-profit school handed out 860 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $9,016 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $85 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Summit College graduates make an average of $30,576 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 27% were women.
Institute of Technology landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Fresno Institute of Technology is located in Clovis, California and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 954 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,356 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $68.After graduating from Fresno Institute of Technology, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $26,461 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
Victor Valley College ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in California list. Victor Valley College is a fairly large public school situated in Victorville, California. It awarded 4,997 degrees in 2021-2022.
Once they receive their degree, Victor Valley College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $35,632 during the early year of their career. Around 56% of those degree recipients were women.
Contra Costa Medical Career College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Contra Costa Medical Career College is a very small private for-profit school situated in Antioch, California. It awarded 948 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $7,275 in student loans. Around 83% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #12, American Career College - Ontario did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. American Career College - Ontario is a small private for-profit school situated in Ontario, California. It awarded 734 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,739 in student loans. 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. During the early years of their career, American Career College - Ontario graduates make an average of $29,941 annually. Around 83% of those degree recipients were women.
Fresno City College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #13 on the list. Fresno, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 3,885 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $4,603 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Fresno City College graduates make an average of $37,728 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.
San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia ranked #14 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in California list. Located in Visalia, California, the small private for-profit school awarded 1,226 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $14,460 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $132. During the early years of their career, San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia graduates make an average of $39,446 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 75% were women.
American Career College - Anaheim came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in California ranking. American Career College - Anaheim is located in Anaheim, California and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 728 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from American Career College - Anaheim accumulate an average of $14,639 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 $151. Once they receive their degree, American Career College - Anaheim graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $35,891 during the early year of their career. Around 79% of those degree recipients were women.
UEI College-Bakersfield did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #16 on the list. Located in Bakersfield, California, the small private for-profit school handed out 819 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $8,988 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $98 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from UEI College-Bakersfield, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $19,886 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 58% were women.
Cuesta College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. This medium-sized public school is located in San Luis Obispo, California, and it awarded 4,702 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $17,988 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Cuesta College graduates make an average of $48,355 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 61% were women.
Butte College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in California ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Oroville, California, and it awarded 2,241 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,921 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Butte College graduates make an average of $56,786 annually. Around 54% of those degree recipients were women.
United Education Institute-Huntington Park Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #19 on the list. Located in Huntington Park, California, the small private for-profit school handed out 768 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $8,819 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $98. During the early years of their career, United Education Institute-Huntington Park Campus graduates make an average of $24,592 annually. Around 65% of those degree recipients were women.
Read full report on United Education Institute-Huntington Park Campus
With a ranking of #20, Santa Rosa Junior College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. This fairly large public school is located in Santa Rosa, California, and it awarded 5,856 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $15,618 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, SRJC graduates make an average of $63,295 annually. Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
The University of Arizona Global Campus landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Located in San Diego, California, the large private for-profit school awarded 9,522 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $34,390 in student loans.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.
UEI College-Gardena 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 Gardena, California, the small private for-profit school handed out 830 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from UEI College-Gardena accumulate an average of $8,743 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $95, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UEI College-Gardena graduates make an average of $24,337 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 57% were women.
With a ranking of #23, Santa Ana College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Santa Ana College is a large public school located in Santa Ana, California that handed out 5,616 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,002 in student loans.After graduating from SAC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,118 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 58% were women.
Antelope Valley College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in California ranking. Antelope Valley College is located in Lancaster, California and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 3,742 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $15,408 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Antelope Valley College graduates make an average of $42,833 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 61% were women.
National University ranked #25 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in California list. Located in San Diego, California, the fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 6,315 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $33,607 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $294, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from National University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $58,580 during the early years of their career. Around 68% of those degree recipients were women.
Rest of the Top 50 Most Popular Trade Schools in California
Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
Most Popular Trade School Schools in the Far Western US Region
View Most Popular Trade School Schools Nationwide >
Rest of the Top 15% Most Popular Trade Schools in California
To learn more about the schools below, just click on their names:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | UEI College-Sacramento | Sacramento, CA |
| 52 | Los Angeles City College | Los Angeles, CA |
| 53 | Long Beach City College | Long Beach, CA |
| 54 | West Coast Ultrasound Institute | Los Angeles, CA |
| 55 | Diablo Valley College | Pleasant Hill, CA |
| 56 | Concorde Career College - Garden Grove | Garden Grove, CA |
| 57 | City College of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA |
| 58 | Cerritos College | Norwalk, CA |
| 59 | Downey Adult School | Downey, CA |
| 59 | Southwestern College | Chula Vista, CA |
| 61 | United Education Institute-Anaheim | Garden Grove, CA |
| 62 | United Education Institute-UEI College Stockton | Stockton, CA |
| 63 | Foothill College | Los Altos Hills, CA |
| 64 | California State University - East Bay | Hayward, CA |
| 65 | San Jose City College | San Jose, CA |
| 66 | Riverside City College | Riverside, CA |
| 67 | United Education Institute-UEI College San Marcos | Oceanside, CA |
Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our most popular trade school schools ranking:
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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