10 schools · California
Truck driving (CDL) schools in California
10 schools in California offer truck driving (CDL) programs (7 of them public), with 9 certificate and 3 associate programs between them. Graduates of the typical certificate program here earned $43,242 a year after finishing, compared with $48,327 nationally.
All truck driving (CDL) programs in California
Sorted by earnings one year after graduation. Click a heading to sort; tuition is the school's yearly tuition and fees (2025-26), in-state for public schools.
| School | Type | Credential | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt | School tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CET-El CentroEl Centro, CA | Nonprofit trade school | Certificate | 52 | $44,773 | $50,652 | $6,650 | $15,000 |
| CET-SoledadSoledad, CA | Nonprofit trade school | Certificate | 61 | $44,773 | $50,652 | $6,650 | $16,375 |
| Advanced Career InstituteVisalia, CA | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 1,031 | $41,710 | $53,102 | $6,314 | $5,970 |
| Butte CollegeOroville, CA | Community college | Certificate | 53 | $35,652 | $50,381 | n/a | $1,374 |
| Coalinga CollegeCoalinga, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 18 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,384 |
| Los Angeles Trade Technical CollegeLos Angeles, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,238 |
| Los Angeles Trade Technical CollegeLos Angeles, CA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,238 |
| Sacramento City CollegeSacramento, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,288 |
| San Diego City CollegeSan Diego, CA | Community college | Certificate | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,154 |
| San Diego City CollegeSan Diego, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,154 |
| Santiago Canyon CollegeOrange, CA | Community college | Certificate | 23 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,160 |
| Shasta CollegeRedding, CA | Community college | Certificate | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,199 |
Cities with the most programs: El Centro (1), Soledad (1), Visalia (1), Oroville (1), Coalinga (1), Los Angeles (1), Sacramento (1), San Diego (1), Orange (1), Redding (1).
What counts: ground transportation, which includes commercial truck and bus driving.
Frequently asked questions
How many truck driving (CDL) schools are in California?
10 schools in California awarded truck driving (CDL) certificates or associate degrees recently, according to the U.S. Department of Education: 9 certificate and 3 associate programs.
Which truck driving (CDL) program in California has the highest earnings?
CET-El Centro in El Centro, where certificate graduates earned a median of $44,773 one year after finishing (programs with at least 5 graduates).
What is the cheapest truck driving (CDL) school in California?
By yearly tuition and fees, San Diego City College in San Diego charges $1,154 (2025-26, in-state). Program fees, tools and licensing exams can add to that, so ask the school.
How much do truck driving (CDL) graduates make in California?
The typical certificate program in California reported median earnings of $43,242 one year after graduation and $50,652 four years after, for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
More in California: all trade schools · colleges
Other trades: Welding · HVAC · Electrician · Plumbing · Carpentry · Construction trades · Auto and diesel mechanic · Heavy equipment mechanic · Cosmetology and barbering · Culinary arts · Medical assistant · LPN and CNA · Dental assisting and hygiene · Phlebotomy and medical lab · EMT, surgical tech and imaging · Medical billing and coding · Massage therapy · Paralegal
Truck driving (CDL) schools nationwide
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (institution and field of study files), data release of October 15, 2026. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working, not enrolled. What each figure covers.