2026 Best Construction Trades Schools in California
Construction Trades degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their construction trades programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 98 schools to find the best for construction trades students.
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Best Schools for Construction Trades in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall construction trades education in California.
Top Schools in Construction Trades
No school ranked higher than Cabrillo College this year for construction trades. Cabrillo College is a large public school located in the suburb of Aptos. There were roughly 33 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Cabrillo College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the construction trades program make about $47,566 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,425.
More information about a degree in construction trades from Cabrillo College
Foothill College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in construction trades, ranking #2. Foothill College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Los Altos Hills. There were roughly 206 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Foothill College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Foothill College generally make around $94,152. Typical student debt for the program is $11,595.
More information about a degree in construction trades from Foothill College
A rank of #3 makes Orange Coast College one of the top schools for construction trades. Set in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 85 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Orange Coast College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the construction trades program make about $46,306 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,978.
See the full construction trades program report for Orange Coast College
A rank of #4 makes American River College one of the top schools for construction trades. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Sacramento. American River College awarded about 774 construction trades degrees in the most recent data year. Construction Trades graduates of American River College earn a median of $76,077 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,105 to complete this degree.
Read more about the construction trades program at American River College
Santiago Canyon College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best construction trades schools. Santiago Canyon College is a large public school located in the city of Orange. There were roughly 384 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Santiago Canyon College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the construction trades program make about $34,100 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $5,500.
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Mt San Antonio College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best construction trades schools. Located in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public university. About 28 construction trades degrees were awarded at Mt San Antonio College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Mt San Antonio College generally make around $44,391. Mt San Antonio College graduates carry a median of $9,384 in student loans.
Read more about the construction trades program at Mt San Antonio College
Los Angeles Trade Technical College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best construction trades schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a very large public university. There were roughly 300 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Los Angeles Trade Technical College in the most recent data year. Construction Trades graduates of Los Angeles Trade Technical College earn a median of $50,745 early in their careers. Los Angeles Trade Technical College graduates carry a median of $14,833 in student loans.
More information about a degree in construction trades from Los Angeles Trade Technical College
Fullerton College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best construction trades schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fullerton. About 68 construction trades degrees were awarded at Fullerton College in the most recent year.
More information about a degree in construction trades from Fullerton College
City College Of San Francisco earned the #9 position for construction trades this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, City College Of San Francisco is a very large public university. There were roughly 45 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at City College Of San Francisco in the most recent data year. Students who receive their construction trades degree from City College Of San Francisco earn around $100,031 in the first couple years of their career. City College Of San Francisco graduates carry a median of $10,332 in student loans.
See the full construction trades program report for City College Of San Francisco
Cuesta College came in at #10 for construction trades this year. Set in the rural area of San Luis Obispo, Cuesta College is a large public institution. Cuesta College awarded about 29 construction trades degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their construction trades degree from Cuesta College earn around $64,492 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,958.
More information about a degree in construction trades from Cuesta College
College Of The Canyons ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best construction trades schools. College Of The Canyons is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. About 17 construction trades degrees were awarded at College Of The Canyons in the most recent year. Graduates of the construction trades program make about $51,913 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,776.
More information about a degree in construction trades from College Of The Canyons
Citrus College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best construction trades schools. Citrus College is a large public school located in the suburb of Glendora. About 32 construction trades degrees were awarded at Citrus College in the most recent year.
See the full construction trades program report for Citrus College
Fresno City College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best construction trades schools. Fresno City College is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. There were roughly 47 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Fresno City College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their construction trades degree from Fresno City College earn around $37,470 in the first couple years of their career. Fresno City College graduates carry a median of $7,234 in student loans.
See the full construction trades program report for Fresno City College
Ventura College came in at #14 for construction trades this year. Ventura College is a large public school located in the city of Ventura. There were roughly 31 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Ventura College in the most recent data year. Construction Trades graduates of Ventura College earn a median of $99,778 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete this degree.
See the full construction trades program report for Ventura College
Chabot College placed #15 among the best construction trades schools. Located in the suburb of Hayward, Chabot College is a large public university. There were roughly 16 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Chabot College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their construction trades degree from Chabot College earn around $85,175 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,122.
See the full construction trades program report for Chabot College
Palomar College earned the #16 position for construction trades this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of San Marcos. Palomar College awarded about 44 construction trades degrees in the most recent data year.
See the full construction trades program report for Palomar College
San Jose City College earned the #17 position for construction trades this year. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose City College is a large public university. San Jose City College awarded about 54 construction trades degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the construction trades program make about $23,253 in their early career.
More information about a degree in construction trades from San Jose City College
Long Beach City College placed #18 among the best construction trades schools. Long Beach City College is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. There were roughly 21 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Long Beach City College in the most recent data year. Long Beach City College graduates carry a median of $6,000 in student loans.
Read more about the construction trades program at Long Beach City College
College Of The Sequoias ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best construction trades schools. Set in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public institution. About 169 construction trades degrees were awarded at College Of The Sequoias in the most recent year. Construction Trades graduates of College Of The Sequoias earn a median of $37,749 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,288 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in construction trades from College Of The Sequoias
Norco College landed the #20 spot for construction trades this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Norco. About 83 construction trades degrees were awarded at Norco College in the most recent year. Norco College graduates carry a median of $8,203 in student loans.
More information about a degree in construction trades from Norco College
Irvine Valley College earned the #21 position for construction trades this year. This large public university is located in the city of Irvine. Irvine Valley College awarded about 17 construction trades degrees in the most recent data year. Typical student debt for the program is $6,672.
More information about a degree in construction trades from Irvine Valley College
San Joaquin Delta College placed #22 among the best construction trades schools. San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public school located in the city of Stockton. San Joaquin Delta College awarded about 69 construction trades degrees in the most recent data year. Construction Trades graduates of San Joaquin Delta College earn a median of $65,168 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $6,382.
More information about a degree in construction trades from San Joaquin Delta College
San Joaquin Valley College Trades Education Center ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best construction trades schools. This small private for-profit university is located in the city of Fresno. There were roughly 131 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at San Joaquin Valley College Trades Education Center in the most recent data year. Graduates of the construction trades program make about $41,399 in their early career. San Joaquin Valley College Trades Education Center graduates carry a median of $15,842 in student loans.
Get the full construction trades details for San Joaquin Valley College Trades Education Center
College Of The Desert placed #24 among the best construction trades schools. Located in the city of Palm Desert, College Of The Desert is a large public university. There were roughly 21 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at College Of The Desert in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from College Of The Desert generally make around $41,295. Typical student debt for the program is $7,826.
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San Joaquin Valley College Ontario ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best construction trades schools. Set in the city of Ontario, San Joaquin Valley College Ontario is a small private for-profit institution. San Joaquin Valley College Ontario awarded about 256 construction trades degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from San Joaquin Valley College Ontario generally make around $41,399. San Joaquin Valley College Ontario graduates carry a median of $15,842 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Construction Trades Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s construction trades ranking:
More Construction Trades Rankings
View All Construction Trades Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 98 schools evaluated.
- 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.
