2026 Best Value Plumbing & Water Supply Schools in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in plumbing & water supply, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Plumbing & Water Supply Schools
Our analysis ranked American River College the best value for a degree in plumbing & water supply in California. Set in the suburb of Sacramento, American River College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,288, while out-of-state students pay about $12,616. Plumbing & Water Supply graduates carry a median of $14,105 in student loans. Plumbing & Water Supply graduates of American River College earn a median of $76,077 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Foothill College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value plumbing & water supply schools. Located in the suburb of Los Altos Hills, Foothill College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,565, compared with $12,590 for out-of-state students. Plumbing & Water Supply graduates carry a median of $11,595 in student loans. Early-career plumbing & water supply graduates make about $94,152. That is a strong return on a $11,595 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Los Angeles Trade Technical College earned it the #3 place for plumbing & water supply. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,238 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,572 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for plumbing & water supply graduates is $14,833. Soon after graduation, plumbing & water supply degree recipients from Los Angeles Trade Technical College generally make around $53,553. Set against $14,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in plumbing & water supply will find it at Summit College, which ranked #4. Summit College is a small private for-profit school located in the city of San Bernardino. Typical student debt for plumbing & water supply graduates is $9,190. Soon after graduation, plumbing & water supply degree recipients from Summit College generally make around $31,464. Set against $9,190 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked 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 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.
[Plumbing & Water Supply](/majors/construction-trades/plumbing-and-water-supply/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
