2020 Best Trade Schools in CaliforniaAbout this List

Mt. San Antonio College

• 2 Year
• Walnut, CA
• 1,711 reviews

Sophomore: Campus is great! Everything you need is readily available and staff on campus are extremely helpful. Information about programs are posted just about everywhere and that was how I discovered new programs available to us. The only complaint here is parking, but i'm sure it's the same everywhere. Counselors are great and provide tons of information to get you on the path that you want to pursue. I was a transfer student and the counselors were extremely helpful in guiding me towards my goals.
Read 1,711 Reviews

• B

• 100% Acceptance Rate
• $4,890 Net Price
• — SAT Range

Santa Rosa Junior College

• 2 Year
• Santa Rosa, CA
• 1,173 reviews

Sophomore: Pros: Clean for the most of the college. The looks of the college are decent. Many programs to help students with scholarships, transfering, and general aid for student life. Better than average courses. Several top notch programs (like the nursing program). Good number of clubs.
Cons:
Does not have an LGBTQ center! (Sonoma County has the second highest percentage of LGBTQ people in the county) Nonexistent Housing and dorms in a county that has some of the highest cost of living. Made cuts after the Sonoma county fires two years ago and still recovering. The cuts have definitely affected the quality and quantity of the courses.
Read 1,173 Reviews

• B

• 100% Acceptance Rate
• $8,770 Net Price
• — SAT Range

Allan Hancock College

• 2 Year
• Santa Maria, CA
• 647 reviews

Freshman: I love how helpful and open the professors are with their students. Never have I felt dumb or as a burden for reaching out for help, and never have I been let down by them either! The campus is a very open, free, and kind environment that I never feel out of place at. The students are kind and caring, the professors are helpful and understanding, and the staff is professional and ALWAYS happy to help and assist the student body.
Read 647 Reviews

• B-

• 100% Acceptance Rate
• $5,560 Net Price
• — SAT Range

San Diego Miramar College

• 2 Year
• San Diego, CA
• 466 reviews

Sophomore: I really like this institution -- the professors are very well-knowledgeable and, from my experience, care about their students. They're also passionate about what they teach. Other staff, like counselors (and really everyone I've met so far) are wonderful. Professional and care about you. Everyone I've met so far wants their students or peers to succeed. The campus, also, is very beautiful. New buildings and renovations = a beautiful, convenient and clean campus. A wonderful place to study. There are so many computers available as well as other resources. Very glad I started my college path here, and highly recommend this college to others, who are interested in transferring after 2 years or simply want to get an Associate's degree!
Read 466 Reviews

• B-

• 100% Acceptance Rate
• $7,113 Net Price
• — SAT Range

City College of San Francisco

• 2 Year
• San Francisco, CA
• 883 reviews

Freshman: It's my first year at city, and I feel well prepared for it. My professors are understanding and clear with their syllabus and expectations. I'm aware of the many programs on campus, and take use of them. There's a free tutoring center with kind and intelligent tutors. The cafeteria food is made by students in the culinary program. If you plan on transferring from city to another college, join the Metro program! They expose their students to scholarship/grant opportunities, resources at city, and help you think about what you want to be in the future. Metro is also in the same building with metro tutors, computer labs, other services.
Read 883 Reviews

• B-

• 100% Acceptance Rate
• $5,479 Net Price
• — SAT Range

Monterey Peninsula College

• 2 Year
• Monterey, CA
• 527 reviews

Alum: Monterey Peninsula College is not only nestled in one of the most beautiful areas in the world, but has all the qualities that one would look for in an ideal school: amazing teachers, dedicated administration, small class sizes, excellent support systems, an involved student body, and a ton of parking! Attending MPC has built my confidence to a point where I feel that I'm prepared for any challenge, any scenario, and any hurdle that is thrown my way. The caliber of professors that are at MPC is almost astonishing, and their dedication is passed on to their students. I can only hope that other schools I attend are as conducive to intellectual exploration. MPC is the cannon from which the rest of my life has been shot, and my momentum is only building.
Read 527 Reviews

• C+

• 100% Acceptance Rate
• $7,205 Net Price
• — SAT Range

San Jose City College

• 2 Year
• San Jose, CA
• 258 reviews

Alum: Overall I had a great experience at San Jose City College. I feel like the variety of classes available, both on campus and online, were sufficient and I never went without getting a class I needed! The counseling office was a huge help to me as well, they really aided me in the right direction. The only downfall to the campus is the parking, but I've had a lot of luck with that.
Read 258 Reviews

• C+

• 100% Acceptance Rate
• $12,531 Net Price
• — SAT Range

Los Medanos College

• 2 Year
• Pittsburg, CA
• 662 reviews

Sophomore: I would recommend Lost Medanos College to anyone interested in a quality education. They have friendly, well-qualifed professors who are interested in student success. They are willing to meet with you to offer help and support. There are two campus locations providing more available classess. They also offer great Math support! Attendance at LMC is very affordable. Three of my siblings have completed all of the general education courses, then transferred to, and graduated from a 4 year University. That is my path as well and I will be starting at Azua Pacific University this Fall. The college is well connected with the UC system and many of the UCs automatically contact with you if you have a good GPA and assist with the transfer process.
Read 662 Reviews

• C+

• 100% Acceptance Rate
• $7,042 Net Price
• — SAT Range

Merritt College

• 2 Year
• Oakland, CA
• 207 reviews

Junior: You have everything you can need here a gym for people who need a workout after class. The library is large and contains a good amount of material when needed. The time needed to see a counselor is very good you can schedule appointments or if a quick 15 minutes is all you have a quick check is available.The financial aid department is always open for assistance. Cafeteria is open and comfortable seating for people who wanna just relax and chat, the parking area is large enough to hold everyone morning or night your guaranteed to find parking security is always patrolling so fear of walking to your car isn't a problem.
Read 207 Reviews

• C+

• 100% Acceptance Rate
• $6,540 Net Price
• — SAT Range

Butte College

• 2 Year
• Oroville, CA
• 636 reviews

Sophomore: I’ve had an incredibly positive experience at Butte College! The professors are excellent, especially considering the fact that this is a community college. There is a huge breadth of resources including a Maker Space and the staff and faculty are dedicated to creating a diverse, supportive environment. I’ve also had the opportunity to work as a tutor on campus, which has been deeply enlightening for me!
Read 636 Reviews

• C+

• 100% Acceptance Rate
• $5,823 Net Price
• — SAT Range

Long Beach City College

• 2 Year
• Long Beach, CA
• 1,570 reviews

Niche User: I graduated from a university and decided to go back to school to further my education. I am currently taking prerequisites at Long Beach City College to apply to PT school in the nearby future. I enjoy classes at LBCC because the professors there truly prepare students who plan on transferring! The science classes here are just as challenging as the ones at a university. People often have the misconception that a junior college is easier but its not the case, at least not here. Don't let this scare you! The professors here truly want you to succeed and they are willing to write you a letter of recommendation if needed. Although it is a great school, they should revamp their cafeteria! They should provide healthier options instead of burgers, fries, etc. What we put in our bodies now will affect our brain later!
Read 1,570 Reviews

• C+

• 100% Acceptance Rate
• $5,526 Net Price
• — SAT Range

West Hills College - Lemoore

• 2 Year
• Lemoore, CA
• 205 reviews

Graduate Student: I absolutely loved attending West Hills college when I came straight out of high school. The transition was smooth and the overall environment was friendly. They had lots of academic programs to chose from based on your career path interest. Also, had lots of extracurricular activities available to its students. I took part in their cross country team and loved it! The coaches were beyond amazing and making new friends was the best. One of the main things I loved about taking part in receiving my AA there was that they offered free tutoring to its students. It was nice being able to have the opportunity of being able to go to a tutor for any subject needing a little extra help and understanding in. The tutors are phenomenal and were definitely a big help for me with coming to better understand maybe and even love it.
Read 205 Reviews

• C+

• 100% Acceptance Rate
• $10,088 Net Price
• — SAT Range

East Los Angeles College

• 2 Year
• Monterey Park, CA
• 1,098 reviews

Alum: Just surfing the internet to recommend a community college for a friend working at Panera's in Glendale, Ca. I came across ELAC and recalled my own experiences when I attended there several to many years ago. I can only image how much more the college has improved for students today. After I finished the 2 yr program I went on to further my studies at UCLA, it was a difficult transition but manageable & I graduated. I think had it not been for the professors, counselors & administrators, my eyes would not have been opened wide enough to see the future before me. ELAC was a good place to start!
Read 1,098 Reviews

• C+

• 100% Acceptance Rate
• $9,465 Net Price
• — SAT Range

Reedley College

• 2 Year
• Reedley, CA
• 401 reviews

Sophomore: Reedley College had a wonderful small town feel. They have a huge variety of programs from nursing to dental hygiene to aviation to agriculture and animal science, there is something for everyone! There are a lot of rescources available to the students such as three places to get free tutoring in all subjects.
Read 401 Reviews

• C+

• 100% Acceptance Rate
• $3,653 Net Price
• — SAT Range

Los Angeles Trade-Technical College

• 2 Year
• Los Angeles, CA
• 643 reviews

Sophomore: Take advantage of the programs and all opportunities, You will succeed as long as you try. Do your best to move forward, the school Provides all the resources! All it requires is grit and hard work. Stick to class. Stick to the work. Always check school email for any updates. Always make an appointment when you visit the financial or business office, it does get packed! Another thing... always plan ahead... Don't let the procrastinating bug get you.
Read 643 Reviews

• C+

• 100% Acceptance Rate
• $7,797 Net Price
• — SAT Range

Hacienda La Puente Adult Education

• 2 Year
• La Puente, CA
• 4 reviews

• C+

• 100% Acceptance Rate
• $1,623 Net Price
• — SAT Range

Porterville College

• 2 Year
• Porterville, CA
• 272 reviews

Sophomore: Before attending Porterville College, I was a little apprehensive about going to a community college; I wanted to experience living away from home and walking around a huge campus. When I arrived in my class, however, I was pleasantly surprised! The professors actually took the time to learn everyone's names and get to know each student individually. They formed relationships with their students and were very accommodating and understanding. Now, I never want to leave.
Read 272 Reviews

• C

• 100% Acceptance Rate
• $2,215 Net Price
• — SAT Range

College of the Siskiyous

• 2 Year
• Weed, CA
• 232 reviews

Graduate Student: I’ve received my paramedic license and Registered Nursing license from COS. This is a great school. The ski area is 20 minutes away, rock climbing, mountain biking. Etc!
Read 232 Reviews

• C

• 100% Acceptance Rate
• $7,636 Net Price
• — SAT Range

Merced College

• 2 Year
• Merced, CA
• 619 reviews

Sophomore: Merced College is a great 2 year college to start your career. It is centrally located in Merced. There is a transit system (bus) and a lot of things in walking distance from the college. The counselors that help you choose your classes are very helpful in leading you in the direction for you future career choice. I am planning on becoming a nurse, and was going to take a MA program elsewhere when my counselor let me know that Merced College offers the same program for a lot less! I was originally going to schedule a summer school course when she asked my future plans. I am so glad we had this conversation and that she wanted to make sure I was on track for my future career goal. I was so excited to find this information about the MA program and Merced College and will be starting this program in the fall.
Read 619 Reviews

• C

• 100% Acceptance Rate
• $9,728 Net Price
• — SAT Range

College of the Redwoods

• 2 Year
• Eureka, CA
• 315 reviews

Sophomore: My experience at College of the Redwoods (the Del Norte branch) has been great! As a nervous first-generation college student, I was overwhelmed by the options available to start career paths. However, with the help of very patient counselors, I found several possible paths to take. The professors are caring and more than happy to lend extra help. What I found to be surprising was their ability to work with the learning content to make it more interesting through a combination of teaching style and personality. What makes this closeness between professor and student is small to moderate class sizes (20-25 students per teacher). The campus while being only a branch of the main campus has had a recent addition to its facilities a new science lab that has equipment geared toward offering more classes for the popular LVN program. Lastly, there are no dorms on the Del Norte College of the Redwoods Campus so renting or other options are advised.
Read 315 Reviews

• C

• 100% Acceptance Rate
• $7,087 Net Price
• — SAT Range

San Diego City College

• 2 Year
• San Diego, CA
• 833 reviews

Senior: Easy to navigate campus, friendly and informative professors, and the diversity is a plus. Students are friendly, parking has vastly improved, and the courses offered are plentiful! I have enjoyed being a student and my my overall experience, I look forward to transferring!
Read 833 Reviews

• C

• 100% Acceptance Rate
• $6,360 Net Price
• — SAT Range

San Bernardino Valley College

• 2 Year
• San Bernardino, CA
• 826 reviews

Graduate Student: This community college has a special place in my heart because it helped be advance in my journey to become nursing student. The resources the school gives to its students is underrated. If you need help paying for school student resources will help you every step. If you need help in a subject there is free tutoring for any student. Need help with scholarships? go to the student counselors! need help with data based research for your papers? there free credible research resources physically in the library or virtually on the school online library. Nothing is just served to you, everything is there for the taking but you have to be the one that takes action.
Read 826 Reviews

• C

• 100% Acceptance Rate
• $9,233 Net Price
• — SAT Range

American River College

• 2 Year
• Sacramento, CA
• 1,334 reviews

Senior: I choose to go to American River College due to the ratings of the professors. I always check ratemyprofessor.com to determine whether I want to take a class or not. American River College has by far the most outstanding ratings. Although, the school is 45 minutes away from me, I don’t mind the drive if I’m getting my moneys worth of education getting taught by great teachers. I do wish the local area could have some improvements because sometimes I don’t feel safe walking in the parking lot, so maybe more security would be great. Overall, it is a great school and I love taking classes here! Nice campus also!
Read 1,334 Reviews

• C

• 100% Acceptance Rate
• $7,329 Net Price
• — SAT Range

Cosumnes River College

• 2 Year
• Sacramento, CA
• 613 reviews

Senior: This school is like home to me! The students are diverse from all different ethnic and social backgrounds, which is honestly great when it comes to breaking some of those social barriers. The campus is small enough to get used to during the first week or two, and the staff and teachers are super supportive. I've moved a lot in the past couple years. Cosumnes River is the fourth community college I've attended, and it is my favorite! Now that I'm getting close to transferring to a 4-year university, what I wish most is that I could stay at Cosumnes to get my Bachelor's degree. Unfortunately, that is not possible. I am just lucky to have had such an amazing experience here.
Read 613 Reviews

• C

• 100% Acceptance Rate
• $5,921 Net Price
• — SAT Range

Los Angeles City College

• 2 Year
• Los Angeles, CA
• 737 reviews

Sophomore: My experience at Los Angeles City College has been very peaceful. All the professors I’ve had experiences with are amazing. Everything is overall organized and staff is always friendly and eager to kindly help. This college is also not as strict on deadlines as other colleges are. Honestly, this college is pretty slept on because it’s honestly great. I’ve never encountered an uncomfortable experience throughout my time here—educational nor personal discomfort—and they honestly seem to be improving more and more every year. If you’re looking for a chill, easy-going, breeze college experience with flexibility and awesome professors, I would definitely recommend this school. Especially for any 2 year goals or certificates. Very affordable and financial aid is super helpful.
Read 737 Reviews

• C

• 100% Acceptance Rate
• $7,360 Net Price
• — SAT Range