California Trade Schools: Cost, Completion & Earnings (2026 stats)
Executive Summary (TL;DR)
Trade schools in California: 382 trade and vocational campuses (292 trade schools, 90 community colleges) median net price $17,762 (+32.1% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $38,317 (+9.2% vs U.S.) median completion rate 68.0% employment-outcome proxy 81.4% working & not enrolled at 8 years.
Overview
Trade schools and vocational programs in California include certificate-focused campuses and community colleges with career and technical education pathways. 382 campuses in this profile (292 trade schools, 90 community colleges), with about 1,266,815 students enrolled, and median net price near $17,762. Programs span healthcare, skilled trades, manufacturing, and other workforce credentials—tables below compare completion, earnings, and employment outcomes with U.S. and Far West medians.
California vs regional & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California (CA) | — | $17,762 | $9,500 | 68.0% | 1,266,815 |
| Far West (region median) | — | $12,272 | $10,028 | 70.3% | 1,505,356 |
| United States | — | $13,448 | $9,792 | 61.5% | 5,468,807 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: California vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California (CA) | $38,317 | 81.4% | 80.0% | 11.9% | — | 47.1% | 0.26 |
| United States | $35,086 | 81.0% | 65.2% | 11.1% | — | 50.5% | 0.28 |
California vs peer states (Far West region)
Peer states are other campuses in the same Scorecard region, chosen by similar total enrollment.
| State | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California (CA) | N/A | $17,762 | $9,500 | 68.0% | 1,266,815 | $38,317 | 81.4% |
| Washington (WA) | N/A | $11,010 | $10,556 | 73.7% | 107,638 | $43,403 | 79.3% |
| Oregon (OR) | N/A | $11,910 | $10,750 | 59.2% | 65,460 | $36,792 | 78.6% |
| Nevada (NV) | N/A | $20,771 | $8,812 | 72.7% | 47,189 | $32,601 | 81.1% |
| Hawaii (HI) | N/A | $8,942 | $9,500 | 41.4% | 14,707 | $38,439 | 78.3% |
| United States | N/A | $13,448 | $9,792 | 61.5% | 5,468,807 | $35,086 | 81.0% |
Outcomes by sector in California
Median campus-level metrics within each ownership type (public, private nonprofit, private for-profit).
| Sector | Campuses | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working share (8 yr) | Retention | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private for-profit | 201 | $31,141 | 81.8% | 77.5% | 10.7% | — | 41.9% |
| Private nonprofit | 17 | $32,986 | 79.0% | N/A | 13.9% | — | 34.4% |
| Public | 134 | $42,204 | 81.5% | 90.9% | 12.4% | — | 56.6% |
Top 10 trade schools in California by completion rate (150% time, certificate programs)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate among trade schools and community colleges in this profile (enrollment ≥ 50). Source: College Scorecard.
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Rank 1, Completion Rate, 100.0%, Jama's Beauty & Barber College
Jama's Beauty & Barber College
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Rank 2, Completion Rate, 100.0%, ABCO Technology
ABCO Technology
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Rank 3, Completion Rate, 100.0%, Contra Costa Medical Career College
Contra Costa Medical Career College
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Rank 4, Completion Rate, 100.0%, Beaumont Adult School
Beaumont Adult School
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Rank 5, Completion Rate, 100.0%, Regan Career Institute
Regan Career Institute
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Rank 6, Completion Rate, 99.2%, Paul Mitchell the School-San Diego
Paul Mitchell the School-San Diego
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Rank 7, Completion Rate, 98.0%, Central Valley Barber College
Central Valley Barber College
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Rank 8, Completion Rate, 97.1%, Ventura Adult and Continuing Education
Ventura Adult and Continuing Education
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Rank 9, Completion Rate, 96.6%, My Le's Beauty College
My Le's Beauty College
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Rank 10, Completion Rate, 95.8%, Diversified Vocational College
Diversified Vocational College
Top 10 trade schools in California by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 93.0%, Homestead Schools
Homestead Schools
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 92.6%, California Career Institute
California Career Institute
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Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 92.2%, California Nurses Educational Institute
California Nurses Educational Institute
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Rank 4, Employment Outcome, 92.2%, Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts
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Rank 5, Employment Outcome, 91.9%, High Desert Medical College
High Desert Medical College
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Rank 6, Employment Outcome, 91.5%, Unitek College
Unitek College
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Rank 7, Employment Outcome, 91.5%, Unitek College
Unitek College
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Rank 8, Employment Outcome, 91.3%, Southern California University of Health Sciences
Southern California University of Health Sciences
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Rank 9, Employment Outcome, 91.3%, Unitek College
Unitek College
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Rank 10, Employment Outcome, 91.1%, Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health
Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health
Top 10 trade schools in California by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $106,781, Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health
Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $69,466, Unitek College
Unitek College
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $69,466, Unitek College
Unitek College
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Rank 4, Mid-Career Earnings, $64,647, Xavier College School of Nursing
Xavier College School of Nursing
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Rank 5, Mid-Career Earnings, $64,364, Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts
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Rank 6, Mid-Career Earnings, $63,011, Brownson Technical School
Brownson Technical School
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Rank 7, Mid-Career Earnings, $62,043, Unitek College
Unitek College
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Rank 8, Mid-Career Earnings, $60,630, Southern California Institute of Technology
Southern California Institute of Technology
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Rank 9, Mid-Career Earnings, $53,294, Integrity College of Health
Integrity College of Health
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Rank 10, Mid-Career Earnings, $52,273, Bay Area Medical Academy
Bay Area Medical Academy
Top 10 trade schools in California by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $112,263, Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health
Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $78,580, Unitek College
Unitek College
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $78,580, Unitek College
Unitek College
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Rank 4, 8-Yr Earnings, $69,706, Xavier College School of Nursing
Xavier College School of Nursing
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Rank 5, 8-Yr Earnings, $68,985, Unitek College
Unitek College
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Rank 6, 8-Yr Earnings, $68,739, Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts
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Rank 7, 8-Yr Earnings, $65,476, Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology
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Rank 8, 8-Yr Earnings, $65,476, Spartan College of Aeronautics & Technology
Spartan College of Aeronautics & Technology
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Rank 9, 8-Yr Earnings, $64,752, California Career Institute
California Career Institute
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Rank 10, 8-Yr Earnings, $64,347, Brownson Technical School
Brownson Technical School
Top 10 trade schools in California by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
None
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $115,318, Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health
Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $87,877, Unitek College
Unitek College
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $87,877, Unitek College
Unitek College
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Rank 4, 10-Yr Earnings, $79,550, Unitek College
Unitek College
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Rank 5, 10-Yr Earnings, $70,649, Southern California University of Health Sciences
Southern California University of Health Sciences
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Rank 6, 10-Yr Earnings, $68,767, Brownson Technical School
Brownson Technical School
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Rank 7, 10-Yr Earnings, $66,844, Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts
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Rank 8, 10-Yr Earnings, $66,666, Alliant International University-San Diego
Alliant International University-San Diego
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Rank 9, 10-Yr Earnings, $63,612, Marian Health Careers Center-Los Angeles Campus
Marian Health Careers Center-Los Angeles Campus
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Rank 10, 10-Yr Earnings, $63,612, Marian Health Careers Center-Van Nuys Campus
Marian Health Careers Center-Van Nuys Campus
Top 10 trade schools in California by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year ROI among trade schools and community colleges with enrollment ≥ 50.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $374,044, Unitek College
Unitek College
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $369,498, Unitek College
Unitek College
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $326,024, Xavier College School of Nursing
Xavier College School of Nursing
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Rank 4, 10-Yr ROI, $325,180, Unitek College
Unitek College
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Rank 5, 10-Yr ROI, $301,863, Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts
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Rank 6, 10-Yr ROI, $295,848, Brownson Technical School
Brownson Technical School
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Rank 7, 10-Yr ROI, $271,174, Marian Health Careers Center-Van Nuys Campus
Marian Health Careers Center-Van Nuys Campus
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Rank 8, 10-Yr ROI, $268,591, Marian Health Careers Center-Los Angeles Campus
Marian Health Careers Center-Los Angeles Campus
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Rank 9, 10-Yr ROI, $266,471, Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology
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Rank 10, 10-Yr ROI, $265,752, Spartan College of Aeronautics & Technology
Spartan College of Aeronautics & Technology
Top 10 most affordable trade schools in California (net price)
Lowest median net price among trade schools and community colleges with enrollment ≥ 50.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $-1,128, Oxnard College
Oxnard College
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Rank 2, Net Price, $-2,296, Moorpark College
Moorpark College
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Rank 3, Net Price, $-982, Ventura College
Ventura College
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Rank 4, Net Price, $1,115, Imperial Valley College
Imperial Valley College
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Rank 5, Net Price, $480, College of the Sequoias
College of the Sequoias
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Rank 6, Net Price, $1,947, Victor Valley College
Victor Valley College
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Rank 7, Net Price, $32, Canada College
Canada College
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Rank 8, Net Price, $2,039, Hartnell College
Hartnell College
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Rank 9, Net Price, $536, College of San Mateo
College of San Mateo
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Rank 10, Net Price, $2,424, Cerritos College
Cerritos College
Student debt: California vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in California is $9,500 (-3.0% vs U.S. median $9,792). Regional median: $10,028. Rank: #13 nationally of 58 (lower debt = better rank); #2 in Far West of 6.
Median earnings (10 years out): California vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in California center around $38,317 (+9.2% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: California vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 81.4% at the median California campus (+0.4 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Median graduate debt is $9,500 (-3.0% below the U.S. median of $9,792, and -5.3% vs the Far West regional median of $10,028). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Student debt rank: #13 nationally of 58 (lower debt = better rank); #2 in Far West of 6 (1 = lowest median debt).
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in California are $38,317, about +9.2% vs the U.S. campus median ($35,086).
The median campus reports 81.4% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 81.0% (+0.4 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 80.0% vs a U.S. median of 65.2%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 11.9% (U.S. 11.1%); 3-yr repayment progress 47.1% (U.S. 50.5%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Nationally, California ranks earnings #16 and employment proxy #24 on these outcome medians (1 = best).
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Homestead Schools (93.0%), California Career Institute (92.6%), California Nurses Educational Institute (92.2%), Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts (92.2%), High Desert Medical College (91.9%), Unitek College (91.5%), Unitek College (91.5%), Southern California University of Health Sciences (91.3%), Unitek College (91.3%), Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health (91.1%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Within California, sector medians diverge: Private for-profit median 10-yr earnings $31,141 (201 campuses); Private nonprofit median 10-yr earnings $32,986 (17 campuses); Public median 10-yr earnings $42,204 (134 campuses). Public campuses often dominate enrollment while private nonprofits can show higher earnings medians at selective institutions.
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in California is 68.0% (national institution average about 61.5%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do trade schools cost in California?
Among trade schools and community colleges in California, median net price is $17,762 vs $13,448 nationally (+32.1% vs U.S.).
What is typical student debt at California trade schools?
Median federal loan debt among completers at trade and vocational campuses in California is $9,500 vs a U.S. median of $9,792 (California ranks #13 nationally for median debt among states.)
What do trade school graduates earn in California?
Median earnings 10 years after entry for California trade schools and community colleges reporting to the College Scorecard is $38,317 vs $35,086 nationally. Six-year medians are $33,264.
What share of California trade school students are working after completion?
The federal employment-outcome proxy on this site (8-year cohort working and not enrolled) has a median of 81.4% in California vs 81.0% nationally.
How many trade schools are in California?
This profile covers 292 trade schools and 90 community colleges (382 total) in California with roughly 1,266,815 total reported enrollment.
How many public vs. private trade schools are in California?
Among trade schools and community colleges with outcomes in the College Scorecard extract: 134 public, 17 private nonprofit, and 201 private for-profit institutions.
What are the top trade schools in California?
Rankings on this page use College Scorecard medians for trade schools and community colleges; standouts include highest completion rate: Jama's Beauty & Barber College; highest 10-year earnings: Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health; lowest net price among large campuses: Oxnard College. See the ranked lists below for full details.
Are there Hispanic-serving or other designated trade schools in California?
Among 664 campuses in California, 437 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include College of Alameda, Allan Hancock College, and Berkeley School of Theology; 55 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Roman Catholic (11), Undenominational (5), Assemblies of God Church (4).
How does California compare to its Census region for trade schools?
California is in the Far West region. Regional median net price is $12,272 and median 10-year earnings are $38,493 vs $17,762 net price and $38,317 earnings in California.
Sources & related
- All trade school profiles
- California college profile
- Trade school costs by state
- Trade schools and public community colleges (College Scorecard)
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON