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Best Value Construction Trades Schools in California

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2023 Best Value Construction Trades Schools in California

Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices

20 Colleges
$10,214 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$32,412 Avg Salary

Finding the Best Construction Trades School for You

Construction Trades is the #37 most popular major in California with 251 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.

With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Best Value Construction Trades Schools in California ranking. Our analysis looked at 20 schools in California to see which programs offered the best value experiences for construction trades students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.

Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.

In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.

2023 Best Value Construction Trades Schools in California

The following schools top our list of the Best Value Construction Trades Colleges.

Top 15% Best Construction Trades Schools

$1,238 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found Los Angeles Trade Technical College to be the best value school for construction trades students who want to pursue a degree in California. Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in the large city of Los Angeles.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Los Angeles Trade Technical College are $1,238 a year. After completing their degree, construction trades graduates from Los Angeles Trade Technical College carry an average student debtload of $11,100.

Read full report on Construction Trades at Los Angeles Trade Technical College

$19,190 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent programs at Southern California Institute of Technology helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best construction trades schools in California. Southern California Institute of Technology is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Anaheim.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Southern California Institute of Technology are $19,190 per year. While working on their degree, construction trades majors at Southern California Institute of Technology accumulate an average of around $9,500 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $66.

Read full report on Construction Trades at Southern California Institute of Technology

#3

CET, Santa Maria

Santa Maria, CA

The excellent programs at CET, Santa Maria helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best construction trades schools in California. Located in the medium-sized city of Santa Maria, CET, Santa Maria is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

The average amount in student loans that construction trades majors at CET, Santa Maria take out is $6,051. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $10, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend InterCoast Colleges - West Covina. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Construction Trades Schools in California list. InterCoast Colleges - West Covina is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of W. Covina.

After completing their degree, construction trades graduates from InterCoast Colleges - West Covina carry an average student debtload of $11,887. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $76.

Read full report on Construction Trades at InterCoast Colleges - West Covina

#3

CET, Colton

Colton, CA

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend CET, Colton. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Construction Trades Schools in California list. Located in the suburb of Colton, CET, Colton is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

While working on their degree, construction trades majors at CET, Colton accumulate an average of around $6,051 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $10, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Construction Trades at CET, Colton Report

#3

CET, Soledad

Soledad, CA

The excellent programs at CET, Soledad helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best construction trades schools in California. CET, Soledad is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the distant town of Soledad.

After completing their degree, construction trades graduates from CET, Soledad carry an average student debtload of $6,051. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $10, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Construction Trades at CET, Soledad

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend InterCoast Colleges - Riverside. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Construction Trades Schools in California list. Located in the city of Riverside, InterCoast Colleges - Riverside is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Construction Trades majors at InterCoast Colleges - Riverside take out an average of $11,887 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $76.

Read full report on Construction Trades at InterCoast Colleges - Riverside

#3

Summit College

Colton, CA

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Summit College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Construction Trades Schools in California list. Located in the medium-sized city of Colton, Summit College is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

While working on their degree, construction trades majors at Summit College accumulate an average of around $7,600 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $45, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

#3

CET, San Jose

San Jose, CA

Out of the 20 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, CET, San Jose landed the # 3 spot on the list. CET, San Jose is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Jose.

The average amount in student loans that construction trades majors at CET, San Jose take out is $6,051. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $10, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Construction Trades at CET, San Jose Report

#3

CET, San Diego

San Diego, CA

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend CET, San Diego. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Construction Trades Schools in California list. CET, San Diego is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of San Diego.

After completing their degree, construction trades graduates from CET, San Diego carry an average student debtload of $6,051. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $10, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

#3

CET, Watsonville

Watsonville, CA

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend CET, Watsonville. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Construction Trades Schools in California list. CET, Watsonville is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Watsonville.

While working on their degree, construction trades majors at CET, Watsonville accumulate an average of around $6,051 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $10, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Construction Trades at CET, Watsonville

The excellent programs at InterCoast Colleges - Fairfield helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best construction trades schools in California. InterCoast Colleges - Fairfield is a small private for-profit school located in the midsize suburb of Fairfield.

After completing their degree, construction trades graduates from InterCoast Colleges - Fairfield carry an average student debtload of $11,887. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $76.

Read full report on Construction Trades at InterCoast Colleges - Fairfield

#3

CET, Salinas

Salinas, CA

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means CET, Salinas is a great value for construction trades students. CET, Salinas is a small private not-for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Salinas.

Full Construction Trades at CET, Salinas Report

#3

CET, Coachella

Coachella, CA

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend CET, Coachella. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Construction Trades Schools in California list. CET, Coachella is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Coachella.

While working on their degree, construction trades majors at CET, Coachella accumulate an average of around $6,051 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $10, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Construction Trades at CET, Coachella

#3

CET, El Centro

El Centro, CA

Out of the 20 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, CET, El Centro landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the small city of El Centro, CET, El Centro is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Construction Trades majors at CET, El Centro take out an average of $6,051 in student loans while working on their egree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $10, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Construction Trades at CET, El Centro Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend InterCoast Colleges - Anaheim. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Construction Trades Schools in California list. Located in the large city of Anaheim, InterCoast Colleges - Anaheim is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

On average, construction trades graduates from InterCoast Colleges - Anaheim take out $11,887 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $76.

Read full report on Construction Trades at InterCoast Colleges - Anaheim

Out of the 20 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Institute for Business and Technology landed the # 3 spot on the list. Institute for Business and Technology is a small private for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Santa Clara.

On average, construction trades graduates from Institute for Business and Technology take out $8,867 in student loans while working on their degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $94.

Read full report on Construction Trades at Institute for Business and Technology

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend InterCoast Colleges - Rancho Cordova. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Construction Trades Schools in California list. Located in the city of Rancho Cordova, InterCoast Colleges - Rancho Cordova is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

On average, construction trades graduates from InterCoast Colleges - Rancho Cordova take out $11,887 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $76.

Read More…

#3

CET, Oxnard

Oxnard, CA

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend CET, Oxnard. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Construction Trades Schools in California list. Located in the midsize city of Oxnard, CET, Oxnard is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

After completing their degree, construction trades graduates from CET, Oxnard carry an average student debtload of $6,051. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $10, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Construction Trades at CET, Oxnard

#3

National Career Education

Citrus Heights, CA

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend National Career Education. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Construction Trades Schools in California list. Located in the large suburb of Citrus Heights, National Career Education is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

The average amount in student loans that construction trades majors at National Career Education take out is $8,867. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $94.

Full Construction Trades at National Career Education Report

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional great value schools for Construction Trades students in the state of California seeking value that almost earned our Best Value Construction Trades Schools in California award.

Rank College Location

Best Value Construction Trades Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Best Value Construction Trades Schools in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Washington 98
Oregon 89
Hawaii 270
Nevada 50
Alaska 0

Construction Trades Majors to Study

Major Annual Graduates
Electrical & Power Transmission Installers 23,527
Building Management & Inspection 4,511
Carpentry 3,273
Plumbing & Water Supply 2,617
Construction 1,435
Masonry 274
Other Construction 157

Majors Similar to Construction Trades

Related Major Annual Graduates
Personal & Culinary Services 130,328
Mechanic & Repair Technologies 96,336
Precision Production 52,913
Transportation & Materials Moving 29,084

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 20 schools only.

  • 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 the rest 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).

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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