Home / Trade schools / California
Home / Trade schools / California
Trade schools in California
College Scorecard lists 118 schools in California that graduated students in electrical, HVAC, plumbing or construction programs in the latest year: 63 electrical, 46 HVAC, 13 plumbing, 59 construction trades, 12 construction management.1
$1,318median public tuition a year
| School | City | Programs | Credential | Type | Completers | Tuition | Cost a year | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Institute for Business and Technology | San Jose | Electrical, HVAC | Associate, Certificate | For-profit | 384 | $19,291 | $30,314 | Apply |
| UEI College-Riverside | Riverside | Electrical, HVAC | Certificate | For-profit | 376 | $21,500 | $37,072 | Apply |
| UEI College-Chula Vista | Chula Vista | Electrical, HVAC | Certificate | For-profit | 361 | $21,500 | $41,485 | Apply |
| UEI College-West Covina | West Covina | Electrical, HVAC | Certificate | For-profit | 330 | $21,500 | $36,313 | Apply |
| UEI College-Bakersfield | Bakersfield | Electrical, HVAC | Certificate | For-profit | 319 | $21,500 | $38,997 | Apply |
| UEI College-Huntington Park | Huntington Park | Electrical, HVAC | Certificate | For-profit | 272 | $19,900 | $35,788 | Apply |
| Summit College | San Bernardino | Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC | Certificate | For-profit | 260 | $19,995 | $33,537 | Apply |
| Southern California Institute of Technology | Anaheim | Electrical | Certificate | For-profit | 256 | $20,515 | $36,858 | Apply |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Ontario | Ontario | Electrical, HVAC, Construction management | Associate, Certificate | For-profit | 227 | $26,978 | $33,228 | Apply |
| Los Angeles Trade Technical College | Los Angeles | Electrical, Construction trades, Plumbing, HVAC | Associate, Certificate | Public | 226 | $1,238 | $12,597 | Apply |
| Foothill College | Los Altos Hills | Electrical, Plumbing | Associate, Certificate | Public | 222 | $1,580 | $11,966 | Apply |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Temecula | Temecula | Electrical, HVAC | Associate, Certificate | For-profit | 220 | $26,978 | $31,458 | Apply |
| UEI College-Ontario | Ontario | Electrical, HVAC | Certificate | For-profit | 198 | $21,500 | $39,172 | Apply |
| Brownson Technical School | Anaheim | HVAC | Certificate | For-profit | 189 | $17,895 | $40,204 | Website |
| National Career Education | Citrus Heights | Electrical, HVAC | Certificate | For-profit | 187 | $16,413 | $28,003 | Apply |
| Santiago Canyon College | Orange | Electrical, Construction trades | Associate, Certificate | Public | 177 | $1,160 | $12,288 | Apply |
| UEI College-Fresno | Fresno | Electrical, HVAC | Certificate | For-profit | 173 | $19,900 | $36,773 | Apply |
| UEI College-Oceanside | Oceanside | Electrical, HVAC | Certificate | For-profit | 172 | $21,500 | $38,626 | Apply |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Modesto | Salida | Electrical | Associate, Certificate | For-profit | 155 | $26,978 | $30,846 | Apply |
| UEI College-Sacramento | Sacramento | Electrical, HVAC | Certificate | For-profit | 155 | $19,900 | $36,514 | Apply |
| UEI College-Stockton | Stockton | Electrical, HVAC | Certificate | For-profit | 155 | $21,500 | $38,490 | Apply |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo | Construction management | Bachelor's | Public | 150 | $15,039 | $36,515 | Apply |
| Capstone College | Pasadena | Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC | Certificate | For-profit | 134 | $17,950 | $22,694 | Apply |
| Independent Training & Apprenticeship Program | Sacramento | Electrical | Certificate | For-profit | 131 | $17,895 | $28,110 | Website |
| InterCoast Colleges-Fairfield | Fairfield | Electrical, HVAC | Certificate | For-profit | 123 | $22,500 | $30,594 | Apply |
| UEI College-Garden Grove | Garden Grove | Electrical, HVAC | Certificate | For-profit | 123 | $21,500 | $36,601 | Apply |
| Institute of Technology | Clovis | HVAC | Certificate | For-profit | 122 | $33,367 | $37,879 | Apply |
| InterCoast Colleges-Rancho Cordova | Rancho Cordova | Electrical, HVAC | Certificate | For-profit | 121 | $22,500 | $28,754 | Apply |
| Cabrillo College | Aptos | Construction trades, Construction management | Associate, Certificate | Public | 120 | $1,270 | $27,981 | Apply |
| InterCoast Colleges-West Covina | West Covina | Electrical, HVAC | Certificate | For-profit | 118 | $24,600 | $37,289 | Apply |
| UEI College-Reseda | Reseda | Electrical, HVAC | Certificate | For-profit | 117 | $21,500 | $37,789 | Apply |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Trades Education Center | Fresno | Electrical, HVAC | Associate, Certificate | For-profit | 107 | $26,978 | $33,540 | Apply |
| CET-Soledad | Soledad | Electrical, Construction trades | Certificate | Nonprofit | 106 | $16,375 | $27,918 | Apply |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia | Visalia | Electrical, HVAC, Construction management | Associate, Certificate, Bachelor's | For-profit | 96 | $22,404 | $36,122 | Apply |
| UEI College-Gardena | Gardena | Electrical, HVAC | Certificate | For-profit | 91 | $21,500 | $38,356 | Apply |
| CET-San Jose | San Jose | Electrical, Construction trades, HVAC | Certificate | Nonprofit | 84 | $16,375 | $28,697 | Apply |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield | Bakersfield | Electrical, HVAC | Associate, Certificate | For-profit | 84 | $22,404 | $28,956 | Apply |
| Norco College | Norco | Electrical, Construction trades | Associate, Certificate | Public | 79 | $1,428 | $36,077 | Apply |
| Palomar College | San Marcos | Electrical, Construction trades | Associate, Certificate | Public | 75 | $1,356 | $12,043 | Apply |
| California State University-East Bay | Hayward | Construction management | Bachelor's, Master's | Public | 71 | $7,993 | $20,807 | Apply |
| CET-San Diego | San Diego | Electrical, Construction trades | Certificate | Nonprofit | 63 | $15,500 | $29,963 | Apply |
| Baldwin Park Adult & Community Education | Baldwin Park | Electrical, Construction trades, HVAC | Certificate | Public | 62 | $1,365 | $14,589 | Apply |
| San Jose City College | San Jose | Construction trades | Associate, Certificate | Public | 62 | $1,366 | $25,157 | Apply |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Hesperia | Hesperia | Electrical, HVAC | Associate, Certificate | For-profit | 60 | $26,978 | $34,136 | Apply |
| College of the Sequoias | Visalia | Electrical, Construction trades | Associate, Certificate | Public | 59 | $1,394 | $10,965 | Apply |
| CET-Coachella | Coachella | Construction trades, HVAC | Certificate | Nonprofit | 59 | $15,500 | $22,041 | Apply |
| Fresno City College | Fresno | Construction trades | Associate, Certificate | Public | 58 | $1,334 | $13,857 | Apply |
| American River College | Sacramento | Electrical, Construction trades, Plumbing | Associate, Certificate | Public | 54 | $1,288 | $14,281 | Apply |
| Imperial Valley College | Imperial | Electrical, Construction trades | Associate, Certificate | Public | 51 | $1,148 | $13,347 | Apply |
| DeHart Technical School | Modesto | HVAC | Certificate | For-profit | 50 | $19,592 | $43,965 | Website |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Lancaster | Lancaster | HVAC | Associate, Certificate | For-profit | 45 | $22,404 | $33,824 | Apply |
| Chaffey College | Rancho Cucamonga | Electrical | Associate, Certificate | Public | 44 | $1,184 | $34,190 | Apply |
| Orange Coast College | Costa Mesa | Electrical, Construction trades, Plumbing, HVAC | Certificate, Associate | Public | 44 | $1,222 | $11,776 | Apply |
| Cosumnes River College | Sacramento | Construction trades | Associate, Certificate | Public | 40 | $1,288 | $12,260 | Apply |
| Fullerton College | Fullerton | Construction trades | Associate, Certificate | Public | 40 | $1,150 | $11,021 | Apply |
| Mayfield College | Cathedral City | HVAC | Certificate | For-profit | 39 | $16,188 | $32,365 | Apply |
| Citrus College | Glendora | Construction trades | Associate, Certificate | Public | 37 | $1,254 | $11,080 | Apply |
| CET-Colton | Colton | Electrical, Construction trades, HVAC | Certificate | Nonprofit | 36 | $16,375 | $30,838 | Apply |
| City College of San Francisco | San Francisco | Electrical, Construction trades, Plumbing | Certificate, Associate | Public | 35 | $1,696 | $16,061 | Apply |
| InterCoast Colleges-Riverside | Riverside | Electrical, HVAC | Certificate | For-profit | 34 | $22,500 | $29,238 | Apply |
| Cuesta College | San Luis Obispo | Electrical, Construction trades | Associate, Certificate | Public | 32 | $1,350 | $15,030 | Apply |
| Irvine Valley College | Irvine | Electrical, Construction trades | Certificate, Associate | Public | 31 | $1,156 | $33,837 | Apply |
| Coastline Community College | Fountain Valley | Electrical, Construction trades | Certificate, Associate | Public | 31 | $1,186 | $20,726 | Apply |
| CET-Watsonville | Watsonville | Construction trades | Certificate | Nonprofit | 30 | $15,249 | $21,045 | Apply |
| Merced College | Merced | Electrical | Associate, Certificate | Public | 28 | $1,202 | $10,558 | Apply |
| CET-Oxnard | Oxnard | Construction trades | Certificate | Nonprofit | 27 | $15,249 | $22,730 | Apply |
| San Joaquin Delta College | Stockton | Electrical, Construction trades | Associate, Certificate | Public | 24 | $1,180 | $12,334 | Apply |
| Antelope Valley Community College District | Lancaster | Electrical | Associate, Certificate | Public | 23 | $1,124 | $10,365 | Apply |
| CET-El Centro | El Centro | Construction trades | Certificate | Nonprofit | 23 | $15,000 | $28,725 | Apply |
| Bakersfield College | Bakersfield | Electrical, Construction trades, Plumbing | Associate, Certificate | Public | 21 | $1,450 | $14,301 | Apply |
| College of the Canyons | Santa Clarita | Electrical, Construction trades, Plumbing | Certificate, Associate | Public | 21 | $1,170 | $28,962 | Apply |
| San Diego Mesa College | San Diego | Construction trades | Associate, Certificate | Public | 21 | $1,154 | $35,822 | Apply |
| College of the Redwoods | Eureka | Electrical, Construction trades | Certificate, Associate | Public | 20 | $1,198 | $29,518 | Apply |
| Laney College | Oakland | Electrical, Construction trades | Certificate, Associate | Public | 19 | $1,258 | $17,569 | Apply |
| Pasadena City College | Pasadena | Construction trades | Associate, Certificate | Public | 19 | $1,180 | $27,741 | Apply |
| National University | San Diego | Construction management | Bachelor's | Nonprofit | 18 | $13,284 | $31,068 | Apply |
| Mt San Antonio College | Walnut | Construction trades | Associate, Certificate | Public | 17 | $1,364 | $12,136 | Apply |
| Ventura College | Ventura | Construction trades | Associate, Certificate | Public | 16 | $1,416 | $8,923 | Apply |
| Modesto Junior College | Modesto | Electrical | Certificate | Public | 14 | $1,276 | $16,086 | Apply |
| San Bernardino Valley College | San Bernardino | Electrical, Construction trades | Associate, Certificate | Public | 14 | $1,185 | $22,617 | Apply |
| Diablo Valley College | Pleasant Hill | Construction trades, Plumbing | Associate, Certificate | Public | 14 | $1,128 | $10,218 | Apply |
| San Diego City College | San Diego | Electrical, Plumbing | Associate, Certificate | Public | 13 | $1,154 | $35,643 | Apply |
| Newschool of Architecture and Design | San Diego | Construction management | Bachelor's, Master's | For-profit | 13 | $30,561 | $58,842 | Apply |
| CET-Santa Maria | Santa Maria | Construction trades | Certificate | Nonprofit | 13 | $15,249 | $22,352 | Apply |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Mirage | Rancho Mirage | Electrical, HVAC | Associate, Certificate | For-profit | 12 | $26,978 | $34,489 | Apply |
| Hacienda La Puente Adult Education | La Puente | HVAC | Certificate | Public | 11 | $1,305 | $7,560 | Apply |
| Los Angeles Valley College | Valley Glen | Construction trades | Associate, Certificate | Public | 11 | $1,238 | $16,420 | Apply |
| American College of Healthcare and Technology | Riverside | HVAC | Certificate | For-profit | 10 | $36,695 | $27,845 | Apply |
| ATA College | El Cajon | HVAC | Certificate | For-profit | 10 | $16,990 | $24,332 | Apply |
| College of the Desert | Palm Desert | Construction trades | Associate, Certificate | Public | 10 | $1,326 | $24,207 | Apply |
| National Polytechnic College | Lakewood | HVAC | Certificate | For-profit | 9 | $42,310 | $39,366 | Apply |
| American College of Healthcare and Technology | Huntington Park | HVAC | Certificate | For-profit | 8 | $17,950 | $25,026 | Apply |
| Butte College | Oroville | Construction trades | Associate, Certificate | Public | 8 | $1,374 | $15,688 | Apply |
| Hartnell College | Salinas | Construction trades | Associate | Public | 8 | $1,404 | $9,820 | Apply |
| Long Beach City College | Long Beach | Construction trades | Associate, Certificate | Public | 8 | $1,560 | $11,020 | Apply |
| Sierra College | Rocklin | Construction trades | Associate, Certificate | Public | 8 | $1,448 | $37,356 | Apply |
| El Camino Community College District | Torrance | Construction trades | Associate, Certificate | Public | 7 | $1,156 | $24,306 | Apply |
| Palo Verde College | Blythe | Construction trades | Associate, Certificate | Public | 7 | $1,288 | $26,768 | Apply |
| Saddleback College | Mission Viejo | Construction trades | Associate, Certificate | Public | 7 | $1,156 | $33,837 | Apply |
| College of San Mateo | San Mateo | Electrical, Construction trades, Plumbing | Associate, Certificate | Public | 6 | $1,332 | $10,628 | Apply |
| Santa Barbara City College | Santa Barbara | Construction trades | Associate, Certificate | Public | 4 | $1,242 | $12,519 | Apply |
| Victor Valley College | Victorville | Construction trades | Associate, Certificate | Public | 4 | $1,449 | $8,976 | Apply |
| Southwestern College | Chula Vista | Construction trades | Associate, Certificate | Public | 3 | $1,356 | $15,108 | Apply |
| California State University-Fresno | Fresno | Construction management | Master's | Public | 1 | $8,224 | $19,585 | Apply |
| Santa Ana College | Santa Ana | Construction trades | Associate, Certificate | Public | 1 | $1,188 | $16,063 | Apply |
| Chabot College | Hayward | Electrical | Certificate | Public | 0 | $1,334 | $18,782 | Apply |
| Santa Rosa Junior College | Santa Rosa | Electrical, Construction trades | Certificate, Associate | Public | 0 | $1,318 | $17,006 | Apply |
| Mission College | Santa Clara | Plumbing | Certificate | Public | 0 | $1,438 | $13,837 | Apply |
| Charles A Jones Career and Education Center | Sacramento | HVAC | Certificate | Public | 0 | $25,100 | $22,711 | Apply |
| Universal Technical Institute-Southern California | Long Beach | HVAC | Certificate | For-profit | 0 | $45,800 | $37,467 | Apply |
| College of Alameda | Alameda | Construction trades | Certificate | Public | 0 | $1,258 | $11,850 | Apply |
| California State University-Long Beach | Long Beach | Construction management | Master's | Public | 0 | $8,338 | $22,926 | Apply |
| Gavilan College | Gilroy | Construction management | Certificate | Public | 0 | $1,444 | $31,586 | Apply |
| Mendocino College | Ukiah | Construction trades | Certificate | Public | 0 | $1,414 | $21,720 | Apply |
| Riverside City College | Riverside | Construction trades | Associate | Public | 0 | $1,428 | $34,590 | Apply |
| San Diego State University | San Diego | Construction trades, Construction management | Bachelor's, Graduate certificate | Public | 0 | $9,180 | $26,045 | Apply |
| University of Southern California | Los Angeles | Construction management | Master's | Nonprofit | 0 | $75,162 | $95,048 | Apply |
| Copper Mountain Community College | Joshua Tree | Construction trades | Certificate | Public | 0 | $1,390 | $18,009 | Apply |
Construction trades (CIP 46.04) covers carpentry, masonry, roofing and other building trades together. Tuition: in-state tuition for a year, or program tuition at schools that bill by program. Cost a year: average cost of attendance at the school.
Which trade schools in California graduate the most students?
Institute for Business and Technology in San Jose had the most completers in these programs in the latest year, 384, then UEI College-Riverside with 376.1
How much does trade school cost in California?
Public schools on the list charge a median $1,318 a year in in-state tuition; for-profit schools charge a median $21,500 in program tuition.1
Certificate or associate degree?
108 of the 118 schools offer a certificate in these trades and 60 offer an associate degree.1 A certificate is the shorter credential; an associate degree adds general education courses.
What is the highest-paying trade in California?
Of the five trades on this site, general contractors have the highest median pay in California, $46.96 an hour.2
| Trade | Median hourly | Schools | Pages |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Contractors | $46.96 | 69 | Schools · Salary · Apprenticeships |
| Electricians | $36.62 | 63 | Schools · Salary · Apprenticeships |
| Plumbers | $35.01 | 13 | Schools · Salary · Apprenticeships |
| HVAC Technicians | $34.88 | 46 | Schools · Salary · Apprenticeships |
| Roofers | $30.58 | 59 | Salary · Apprenticeships |
Pick a trade in California
Sources
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (field of study and institution data) (collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, California, May 2025 (bls.gov, May 2025)