2023 Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California
With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools and bootcamp that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California ranking. This report analyzed 67 schools in California to see which ones offered the best undergraduate certificate programs for students. The factors used to develop this ranking include those related to how in-demand the school us, the overall quality of the school, and post-graduation wages, and more.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Los Angeles Valley College to be the best school for students who want to pursue a undergraduate certificate in California.
In-state students pay an average of $1,238 in tuition and fees if they attend LAVC full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,012. On average, undergraduate certificate students take out $11,749 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at LAVC. During the 2019-2020 year, about 50% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Mt. San Antonio College is a great place for students working on their undergraduate certificate.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,352 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Mt. SAC. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,032. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from Mt. SAC accumulate an average of $14,681 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Mt. SAC does offer online classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 69% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Cabrillo College is a great place for students working on their undergraduate certificate.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Cabrillo College is $1,262. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,630. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,746 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Cabrillo College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 53% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Asher College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California list.
By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,817 in student loans.
Asher College is primarily an online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Napa Valley College is a great place for students working on their undergraduate certificate.
Students from California who attend Napa Valley College full time pay an average of $1,150 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,734.
One thing to take note of is that Napa Valley College does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 93% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Cuesta College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California list.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,338 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Cuesta College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,702.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Cuesta College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 96% took at least some of their classes online.
Butte College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California ranking.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,368 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Butte College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,848. On average, undergraduate certificate students take out $14,655 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Butte College does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 33% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #8, Santa Barbara City College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their undergraduate certificate.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at SBCC is $1,232. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,912. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,383 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at SBCC. In 2019-2020 about 59% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
East Los Angeles College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at East Los Angeles College is $1,238. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,012. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,276 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since East Los Angeles College does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2019-2020 year, about 41% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #10, Yuba College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their undergraduate certificate.
In-state students pay an average of $1,128 in tuition and fees if they attend Yuba College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $7,488. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,091 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that Yuba College does offer online classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 39% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
San Bernardino Valley College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best undergraduate certificate programs.
Students from California who attend San Bernardino Valley College full time pay an average of $1,362 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,146. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,593 in student loans.
Online courses are available at San Bernardino Valley College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 95% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #12, Los Angeles City College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their undergraduate certificate.
In-state students pay an average of $1,238 in tuition and fees if they attend Los Angeles City College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,012. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from Los Angeles City College accumulate an average of $12,202 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Los Angeles City College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 43% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
MTI College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California list.
By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,278 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at MTI College. In 2019-2020 about 9% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Merced College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California list.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,180 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Merced Community College District. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,444. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $9,067 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that Merced Community College District does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 97% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
National University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California ranking.
Some students may be able to take online classes at National University. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 39% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Moreno Valley College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #16 on the list.
Students from California who attend Moreno Valley College full time pay an average of $1,420 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $10,120. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from Moreno Valley College accumulate an average of $15,939 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Moreno Valley College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 36% took at least some of their classes online.
Santa Ana College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #17 on the list.
In-state students pay an average of $1,180 in tuition and fees if they attend SAC full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,684. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from SAC accumulate an average of $13,108 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at SAC. In fact, around 49% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #18, Foothill College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their undergraduate certificate.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,565 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Foothill College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $10,790.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Foothill College. During the 2019-2020 year, about 83% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Santa Rosa Junior College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California list.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,328 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend SRJC. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,952. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,212 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that SRJC does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 70% took at least some of their classes online.
Empire College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California list.
Cypress College landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best undergraduate certificate programs.
Students from California who attend Cypress College full time pay an average of $1,146 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,898.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Cypress College. In fact, around 38% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #22, Sacramento City College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their undergraduate certificate.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Sacramento City. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 62% took at least some of their classes online.
Palomar College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California list.
In-state students pay an average of $1,344 in tuition and fees if they attend Palomar College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,940.
Palomar College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 90% took at least some of their classes online.
Reedley College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #24 on the list.
Students from California who attend Reedley College full time pay an average of $1,304 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,504. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $5,807 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that Reedley College does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 34% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #25, Alliant International University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their undergraduate certificate.
Alliant does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $16,631. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid.
Alliant does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 52% took at least some of their classes online.
Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Far Western US Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 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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