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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.
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.
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. 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. Around 88% of those degree recipients were women.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is a great place for trade school students. Located in San Mateo, California, the small private for-profit school handed out 1,423 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,681 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $178, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts graduates make an average of $52,087 annually. Around 82% of those degree recipients were women.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Sierra College is a great place for trade school students. This fairly large public school is located in Rocklin, California, and it awarded 4,995 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $17,540 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 66% were women.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Advanced Career Institute. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Trade Schools in California list. Advanced Career Institute is a very small private for-profit school located in Visalia, California that handed out 1,671 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $6,241 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $39 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Advanced Career Institute graduates make an average of $30,938 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 11% were women.
Out of the 444 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Carrington College, Sacramento landed the # 5 spot on the list. Carrington College, Sacramento is a small private for-profit school situated in Sacramento, California. It awarded 1,150 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Carrington College, Sacramento accumulate an average of $17,149 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 $134. During the early years of their career, Carrington College, Sacramento graduates make an average of $39,519 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 91% were women.
American Career College - Los Angeles landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. This small private for-profit school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 987 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,345 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $139. 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. National Holistic Institute is a small private for-profit school located in Emeryville, California that handed out 838 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from National Holistic Institute accumulate an average of $9,361 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. 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. During the early years of their career, National Holistic Institute graduates make an average of $22,470 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 74% were women.
Summit College ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in California list. Summit College is a private for-profit institution located in San Bernardino, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 860 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $9,016 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $85, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Summit College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $30,576 during the early year of their career. 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 a small private for-profit school situated in Clovis, California. It awarded 954 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $10,356 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $68. Once they receive their degree, Fresno Institute of Technology graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $26,461 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
Victor Valley College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in California ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Victorville, California, and it awarded 4,997 degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, Victor Valley College graduates make an average of $35,632 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 56% were women.
Contra Costa Medical Career College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. This very small private for-profit school is located in Antioch, California, and it awarded 948 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Contra Costa Medical Career College accumulate an average of $7,275 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 83% were women.
American Career College - Ontario ranked #12 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in California list. American Career College - Ontario is a small private for-profit school located in Ontario, California that handed out 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. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $165.After graduating from American Career College - Ontario, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $29,941 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 83% were women.
Fresno City College ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in California list. Fresno City College is a large public school situated in Fresno, California. It awarded 3,885 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $4,603 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Fresno City College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $37,728 during the early years of their career. Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.
San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia is a private for-profit institution located in Visalia, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,226 degrees 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. During the early years of their career, San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia graduates make an average of $39,446 annually. Around 75% of those degree recipients were women.
American Career College - Anaheim ranked #15 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in California list. American Career College - Anaheim is a small private for-profit school located in Anaheim, California that handed out 728 degrees in 2021-2022.
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. Of those students who received their degree, 79% 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. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $98, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, UEI College-Bakersfield graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $19,886 during the early year of their career. Around 58% of those degree recipients were women.
Cuesta College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Cuesta College is a medium-sized public school situated in San Luis Obispo, California. 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. Around 61% of those degree recipients were women.
Butte College ranked #18 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in California list. This medium-sized public school is located in Oroville, California, and it awarded 2,241 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Butte College accumulate an average of $12,921 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Butte College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $56,786 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 54% were women.
United Education Institute-Huntington Park Campus ranked #19 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in California 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. Once they receive their degree, United Education Institute-Huntington Park Campus graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $24,592 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.
Full United Education Institute-Huntington Park Campus Report
With a ranking of #20, Santa Rosa Junior College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Located in Santa Rosa, California, the fairly large public school handed out 5,856 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from SRJC accumulate an average of $15,618 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, SRJC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $63,295 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
The University of Arizona Global Campus came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in California ranking. This large private for-profit school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 9,522 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from UAGC accumulate an average of $34,390 in student debt by the time they complete 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. Of those students who received their degree, 67% were women.
UEI College-Gardena came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in California ranking. UEI College-Gardena is a small private for-profit school situated in Gardena, California. It awarded 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. Around 57% of those degree recipients 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, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 5,616 students 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. Once they receive their degree, SAC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $41,118 during the early year of their career. Around 58% of those degree recipients were women.
Antelope Valley College ranked #24 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in California list. Antelope Valley College is a fairly large public school located in Lancaster, California that handed out 3,742 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Antelope Valley College accumulate an average of $15,408 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Antelope Valley College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,833 during the early years of their career. Around 61% of those degree recipients were women.
National University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in California ranking. National University is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 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. 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.
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 | Southwestern College | Chula Vista, CA |
| 59 | Downey Adult School | Downey, 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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