Best Vocational Trade Schools in California
Vocational trade schools offer a formal setting where students learn marketable job skills. For example, trade schools in California can prepare you for careers in fast-growing industries like healthcare, construction, engineering, and technology.
Community colleges that offer education in the trades are also called trade schools. According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, enrollment grew 17.6% at these institutions from 2023 to 2024.
Use our guide below to learn more about the top California trade schools, how to choose the right school for you, and what you can expect to earn after graduation.
Popular Online Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Best California Trade Schools
Cerritos College
- Norwalk, CA
- 2 year
- Campus
- In-State$1,288
- Out-of-state$8,708
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate74%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled22,287
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment32%
- AccreditationNo
Southwestern College
- Chula Vista, CA
- 2 year
- Campus
- In-State$1,288
- Out-of-state$7,420
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate75%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled19,231
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment34%
- AccreditationNo
Long Beach City College
- Long Beach, CA
- 2 year
- Campus
- In-State$1,472
- Out-of-state$9,952
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate69%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled24,127
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment29%
- AccreditationNo
Palomar College
- San Marcos, CA
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$1,288
- Out-of-state$8,848
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate67%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled23,874
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment38%
- AccreditationNo
Ventura College
- Ventura, CA
- 2 year
- Campus
- In-State$1,340
- Out-of-state$7,344
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate76%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled12,696
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment40%
- AccreditationNo
Oxnard College
- Oxnard, CA
- 2 year
- Campus
- In-State$1,340
- Out-of-state$7,344
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate72%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled7,464
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment38%
- AccreditationNo
Santa Rosa Junior College
- Santa Rosa, CA
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$1,282
- Out-of-state$8,128
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate75%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled19,101
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment31%
- AccreditationNo
De Anza College
- Cupertino, CA
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$1,395
- Out-of-state$9,360
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate79%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled18,669
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment36%
- AccreditationNo
Bakersfield College
- Bakersfield, CA
- 4 year
- Campus
- In-State$1,288
- Out-of-state$7,700
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention RateN/A
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled26,380
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment31%
- AccreditationNo
Fullerton College
- Fullerton, CA
- 2 year
- Campus
- In-State$1,104
- Out-of-state$6,360
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate71%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled22,613
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment27%
- AccreditationNo
Orange Coast College
- Costa Mesa, CA
- 2 year
- Campus
- In-State$1,104
- Out-of-state$7,752
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate75%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled20,042
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment18%
- AccreditationNo
American River College
- Sacramento, CA
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$0
- Out-of-state$7,824
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate70%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled31,265
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment35%
- AccreditationNo
Imperial Valley College
- Imperial, CA
- 2 year
- Campus
- In-State$1,104
- Out-of-state$6,024
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate77%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled8,511
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment27%
- AccreditationNo
Foothill College
- Los Altos Hills, CA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$1,395
- Out-of-state$9,360
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention RateN/A
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled15,123
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment55%
- AccreditationNo
Modesto Junior College
- Modesto, CA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$1,104
- Out-of-state$7,464
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention RateN/A
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled18,068
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment47%
- AccreditationNo
San Bernardino Valley College
- San Bernardino, CA
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$0
- Out-of-state$0
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate64%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled14,872
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment39%
- AccreditationNo
Diablo Valley College
- Pleasant Hill, CA
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$1,288
- Out-of-state$8,540
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate77%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled19,871
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment36%
- AccreditationNo
Saddleback College
- Mission Viejo, CA
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$1,288
- Out-of-state$9,548
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate76%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled19,709
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment59%
- AccreditationNo
College of San Mateo
- San Mateo, CA
- 2 year
- Campus
- In-State$1,362
- Out-of-state$9,006
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate70%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled8,163
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment28%
- AccreditationNo
Ohlone College
- Fremont, CA
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$1,104
- Out-of-state$7,464
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate83%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled8,900
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment49%
- AccreditationNo
Why Consider a California Trade School?
- Shorter Programs: Unlike four-year academic degrees, trade school programs often take between several months and two years to complete.
- Lower Costs: According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) for the 2022-23 school year, the average annual tuition cost for in-state learners at two-year public schools in California was $1,286. In contrast, average tuition for the same students at four-year public schools was $8,637 — almost $7,500 more expensive per year.
- High-Demand Careers: Trade school can prepare you for in-demand careers, including jobs like plumber, carpenter, and health technologist.
- Fewer Admission Requirements: Most trade schools only require a high school diploma or GED certificate for admission.
- Local Marketability: Trade school programs often align with the local job market, so your degree is immediately marketable in your area.
How Accreditation Works for Trade Schools in California
Accreditation offers multiple benefits. Credits you earn at an accredited school are more likely to transfer, and accredited degrees meet more professional licensure and certification requirements. Students enrolled in accredited schools also qualify for federal financial aid.
Who Accredits California Trade Schools?
Like community colleges and four-year institutions, California’s trade schools may hold institutional accreditation, the highest standard in postsecondary education.
In California, the regional institutional accreditor, WASC Senior College and University Commission, grants accreditation to four-year schools, while the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges grants accreditation to two-year colleges.
Vocational and trade schools can also hold accreditation from national organizations, such as the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges or the Distance Education Accrediting Commission.
Trade School Approval and Licensure
Private trade schools should also hold state approval and licensure. California’s Bureau for Private and Postsecondary Education regulates private vocational and trade schools.
Popular Trade Jobs In California: Career Outlook
Trade school graduates work in healthcare, technology, hospitality, and many other industries. As a result, their career and salary outlook varies by field.
For example, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that installation, maintenance, and repair occupations earned a median wage of $61,650 in California in 2023, and protective service professionals made a median $49,370. That same year, dental hygienists in California earned a median salary of $120,640, and respiratory therapists made a median $101,200.
Vocational programs also prepare graduates for in-demand careers in STEM. According to the National Science Foundation, as of 2021, only 48% of STEM professionals hold a bachelor’s degree or higher — workers with associate degrees, technical education, or no college comprise the rest of the STEM roles. Jobs in these fields that require a technical education but not a bachelor’s degree include healthcare technician, engineering technician, and electrician.
Job | Projected Growth in California (2022-32) | Average Annual Wage in California (2023) | Degree, License, or Certificate Required |
---|---|---|---|
Radiation Therapist | 10% | $156,310 | Associate degree |
Dental Hygienist | 15.2% | $120,640 | Associate degree |
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | 24.1% | $119,120 | Associate degree |
Respiratory Therapist | 20% | $101,200 | Associate degree |
Electrician | 13.3% | $77,470 | License |
HVAC Technician | 11.2% | $62,230 | Certificate or associate degree |
How Much Is Trade School In California?
Vocational and trade schools in California often charge lower tuition rates than four-year colleges and universities. According to NCES data from the 2022-23 academic year, California public schools averaged $8,637 per year in tuition and fees for in-state learners, while private colleges and universities averaged $42,017 yearly.
In contrast, public two-year schools in the state averaged $1,286 annually for California residents. By choosing an affordable vocational program, you can save thousands on your certificate or degree.
Institution Type | Average Tuition and Required Fees in California | Average Tuition and Required Fees Nationwide |
---|---|---|
Public 2-Year (In-State) | $1,286 | $3,598 |
Public 2-Year (Out-of-State) | $9,338 | $8,565 |
How to Pay for Trade School: Financial Aid Opportunities
Students enrolled at an accredited trade school can apply for federal financial aid — including loans, grants, and work-study opportunities — by completing the FAFSA. However, not all California technical colleges meet the requirements for federal financial aid, so investigate each prospective school’s eligibility before applying.
To help pay for your trade school education, explore all available funding resources, including private scholarships, California student grants, employer tuition assistance, and schools’ own institutional aid.
Popular Online Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Frequently Asked Questions About Trade Schools in California
Is there financial aid available for trade schools in California?
Yes, students attending accredited vocational schools in California can qualify for federal financial aid and other forms of financial aid, such as scholarships. The California Student Aid Commission is a helpful resource for state residents and offers extensive information on state-funded scholarships, grants, and awards.
What do trade schools in California offer?
You can pursue one of many trade-related vocations at a California-based trade school, including HVAC technician, electrician, mechanic, dental hygienist, or nuclear technologist. Some programs conclude with a certificate, while others confer an associate degree.
How many trade schools and community colleges are in California?
California’s Department of Industrial Relations has approved 79 trade schools in the state that actively accept new students and offer training. NCES data reveals there are 243 California schools that are authorized to offer certificates and associate degrees that take two or more years, and 191 institutions that offer programs that take fewer than two years.
How do I get into a trade school in California?
To qualify for admission to a trade school in California, you must generally be 17-18 years old and hold a high school diploma or GED certificate. Some trade schools have an inclusive admission policy, so they do not require a high school diploma or its equivalent for admission.
How long is trade school for electricians in California?
To take the general electrician exam in California, you need 720 hours of instruction from an approved training program, such as a trade school, followed by 8,000 hours of work experience. The trade school component can take under a year, but the work experience usually takes 4-5 years.