2026 Rankings

    Best Value Trade Schools in California

    Schools that deliver strong outcomes at the lowest cost to students in California. Ranked by graduation rate, tuition, student debt, and financial aid access.

    209 Schools RankedPowered by IPEDS Data

    Showing 1–25 of 209 schools

    #1
    85.4/ 100
    Urban Barber College

    Concord, CA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:93%
    Avg Tuition:$3,000
    Avg Loan:$5,488
    Financial Aid:90%
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    #2
    81.1/ 100
    Redondo Beach Beauty College

    Torrance, CA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:93%
    Avg Tuition:$5,100
    Avg Loan:$6,985
    Financial Aid:100%
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    #3
    78.9/ 100
    California Hair Design Academy

    La Mesa, CA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:82%
    Avg Tuition:$9,043
    Avg Loan:$4,314
    Financial Aid:100%
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    #4
    75.7/ 100
    Butte County Regional Occupational Program

    Chico, CA · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:79%
    Avg Tuition:$4,450
    Avg Loan:$5,702
    Financial Aid:89%
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    #5
    72.2/ 100
    John Wesley International Barber and Beauty College

    Long Beach, CA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:77%
    Avg Tuition:$9,020
    Avg Loan:$4,914
    Financial Aid:95%
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    #6
    72.1/ 100
    Coachella Valley Beauty College

    La Quinta, CA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:78%
    Avg Tuition:$7,940
    Avg Loan:$3,637
    Financial Aid:86%
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    #7
    71.6/ 100
    California Barber and Beauty College

    San Diego, CA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:76%
    Avg Tuition:$2,850
    Avg Loan:$4,148
    Financial Aid:70%
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    #8
    70.8/ 100
    Southern California College of Barber and Beauty

    Escondido, CA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:76%
    Avg Tuition:$4,838
    Avg Loan:$5,710
    Financial Aid:85%
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    #9
    70.4/ 100
    Ventura Adult and Continuing Education

    Ventura, CA · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:76%
    Avg Tuition:$6,698
    Avg Loan:$5,315
    Financial Aid:87%
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    #10
    70.2/ 100
    Estes Institute of Cosmetology Arts and Science

    Visalia, CA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:64%
    Avg Tuition:$3,495
    Avg Loan:$4,729
    Financial Aid:92%
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    #11
    68.8/ 100
    Coachella Valley Beauty College-Hemet

    Hemet, CA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:76%
    Avg Tuition:$9,060
    Avg Loan:$4,367
    Financial Aid:89%
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    #11
    68.8/ 100
    Riverside County Office of Education-School of Career Education

    Riverside, CA · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:85%
    Avg Tuition:$12,233
    Avg Loan:$4,507
    Financial Aid:89%
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    #13
    67.9/ 100
    Palladium Technical Academy Inc

    Temple City, CA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:88%
    Avg Tuition:$15,500
    Avg Loan:$5,420
    Financial Aid:100%
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    #13
    67.9/ 100
    Salon Success Academy-West Covina

    West Covina, CA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:75%
    Avg Tuition:$6,900
    Avg Loan:$5,740
    Financial Aid:88%
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    #15
    67.3/ 100
    Premiere Career College

    Irwindale, CA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:79%
    Avg Tuition:$4,653
    Avg Loan:$7,577
    Financial Aid:90%
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    #16
    67.1/ 100
    Clovis Adult Education

    Clovis, CA · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:77%
    Avg Tuition:$1,000
    Avg Loan:N/A
    Financial Aid:100%
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    #17
    65.7/ 100
    Regan Career Institute

    El Monte, CA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:100%
    Avg Tuition:$17,830
    Avg Loan:$6,204
    Financial Aid:100%
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    #18
    65.5/ 100
    Diversified Vocational College logo
    Diversified Vocational College

    Los Angeles, CA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:78%
    Avg Tuition:$13,842
    Avg Loan:$5,043
    Financial Aid:100%
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    #19
    64.9/ 100
    Los Angeles College of Aesthetics logo
    Los Angeles College of Aesthetics

    Los Angeles, CA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:92%
    Avg Tuition:$8,315
    Avg Loan:$5,648
    Financial Aid:40%
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    #20
    64.8/ 100
    California Beauty College logo
    California Beauty College

    Modesto, CA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:88%
    Avg Tuition:$11,350
    Avg Loan:$5,183
    Financial Aid:79%
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    #21
    64.5/ 100
    Salon Success Academy-Fontana logo
    Salon Success Academy-Fontana

    Fontana, CA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:70%
    Avg Tuition:$4,100
    Avg Loan:$5,034
    Financial Aid:73%
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    #22
    64.2/ 100
    Salon Success Academy-Corona logo
    Salon Success Academy-Corona

    Corona, CA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:85%
    Avg Tuition:$10,100
    Avg Loan:$5,557
    Financial Aid:78%
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    #23
    64.0/ 100
    Southern California Health Institute logo
    Southern California Health Institute

    North Hollywood, CA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:79%
    Avg Tuition:$17,900
    Avg Loan:$3,780
    Financial Aid:99%
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    #24
    63.8/ 100
    Medical Allied Career Center logo
    Medical Allied Career Center

    Santa Fe Springs, CA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:68%
    Avg Tuition:$2,200
    Avg Loan:$8,191
    Financial Aid:100%
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    #25
    63.5/ 100
    Academy of Esthetics and Cosmetology logo
    Academy of Esthetics and Cosmetology

    San Fernando, CA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:64%
    Avg Tuition:$8,400
    Avg Loan:$3,781
    Financial Aid:92%
    View School

    Our Best Value rankings evaluate trade and vocational colleges using four weighted metrics derived from federal IPEDS data: graduation rate, average tuition, average student loan amount, and financial aid accessibility.

    How are these rankings calculated? View Methodology

    See Also

    View all trade schools in California →