2026 Best Value Electrician Schools in California
[Electrician](/majors/construction-trades/electrical-power-transmission-installers/electrician/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong electrician education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 58 schools to find the best return on investment for electrician students.
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2026 Best Value Electrician Schools in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in electrician, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Electrician Schools
Our analysis ranked College Of The Sequoias the best value for a degree in electrician in California. College Of The Sequoias is a large public school located in the city of Visalia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,394, with out-of-state students paying around $9,038. Typical student debt for electrician graduates is $10,288. Soon after graduation, electrician degree recipients from College Of The Sequoias generally make around $37,749. That is a strong return on a $10,288 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in electrician will find it at San Diego City College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego City College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,146, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,514 to complete the electrician program here. Early-career electrician graduates make about $26,218. Set against $9,514 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Santiago Canyon College one of the best values for electrician. Located in the city of Orange, Santiago Canyon College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,164, compared with $9,612 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the electrician program here. Electrician graduates of Santiago Canyon College earn a median of $34,100 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Irvine Valley College earned it the #4 place for electrician. Set in the city of Irvine, Irvine Valley College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,156, compared with $11,860 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for electrician graduates is $6,672. Median earnings reach $49,156 ten years out. Set against $6,672 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Norco College one of the best values for electrician. Set in the suburb of Norco, Norco College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,428, while out-of-state students pay about $12,498. Electrician graduates carry a median of $8,203 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,206 ten years after entry. Set against $8,203 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
American River College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value electrician schools. Set in the suburb of Sacramento, American River College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,288, while out-of-state students pay about $12,616. Typical student debt for electrician graduates is $14,105. Early-career electrician graduates make about $76,077. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Imperial Valley College landed the #7 spot for electrician value this year. Located in the rural area of Imperial, Imperial Valley College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,126, while out-of-state students pay about $8,830. Students borrow a median of $6,176 to complete the electrician program here. Electrician graduates of Imperial Valley College earn a median of $42,617 early in their careers. Set against $6,176 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chabot College came in at #8 for value in electrician this year. Set in the suburb of Hayward, Chabot College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,150, while out-of-state students pay about $8,686. Students borrow a median of $14,122 to complete the electrician program here. Soon after graduation, electrician degree recipients from Chabot College generally make around $85,175. Set against $14,122 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Merced College landed the #9 spot for electrician value this year. Set in the city of Merced, Merced College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,200, compared with $8,520 for out-of-state students. Electrician graduates carry a median of $9,024 in student loans. Soon after graduation, electrician degree recipients from Merced College generally make around $45,032. That is a strong return on a $9,024 median debt.
Foothill College came in at #10 for value in electrician this year. Foothill College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Los Altos Hills. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,565, with out-of-state students paying around $12,590. Students borrow a median of $11,595 to complete the electrician program here. Electrician graduates of Foothill College earn a median of $94,152 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Palomar College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value electrician schools. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, Palomar College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,354, with out-of-state students paying around $10,650. Median earnings reach $42,300 ten years out.
College Of The Redwoods came in at #12 for value in electrician this year. Set in the rural area of Eureka, College Of The Redwoods is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,196, with out-of-state students paying around $8,852. Electrician graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, electrician degree recipients from College Of The Redwoods generally make around $98,703. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Joaquin Delta College placed #13 among the best values for electrician. San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public school located in the city of Stockton. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $9,772. Electrician graduates carry a median of $6,382 in student loans. Electrician graduates of San Joaquin Delta College earn a median of $65,168 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Los Angeles Trade Technical College earned the #14 position for value in electrician this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,238, compared with $10,572 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for electrician graduates is $14,833. Early-career electrician graduates make about $50,745. Set against $14,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Antelope Valley College came in at #15 for value in electrician this year. Set in the suburb of Lancaster, Antelope Valley College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,124, compared with $9,548 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,729 to complete the electrician program here. Electrician graduates of Antelope Valley College earn a median of $50,744 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuesta College came in at #16 for value in electrician this year. Located in the rural area of San Luis Obispo, Cuesta College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,350, with out-of-state students paying around $11,010. Typical student debt for electrician graduates is $18,958. Early-career electrician graduates make about $64,492. That is a strong return on a $18,958 median debt.
San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value electrician schools. Set in the city of Bakersfield, San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for electrician graduates is $15,842. Electrician graduates of San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield earn a median of $41,399 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,842 median debt.
San Joaquin Valley College Hesperia came in at #18 for value in electrician this year. San Joaquin Valley College Hesperia is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Hesperia. Students borrow a median of $15,065 to complete the electrician program here. Early-career electrician graduates make about $30,608. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Baldwin Park Adult And Community Education ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value electrician schools. Baldwin Park Adult And Community Education is a small public school located in the suburb of Baldwin Park. Early-career electrician graduates make about $35,016.
Cet Soledad earned the #20 position for value in electrician this year. Located in the town of Soledad, Cet Soledad is a small private not-for-profit university. Typical student debt for electrician graduates is $6,538. Early-career electrician graduates make about $31,575. Set against $6,538 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Joaquin Valley College Trades Education Center placed #21 among the best values for electrician. Set in the city of Fresno, San Joaquin Valley College Trades Education Center is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $15,842 to complete the electrician program here. Soon after graduation, electrician degree recipients from San Joaquin Valley College Trades Education Center generally make around $41,399. Set against $15,842 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Independent Training And Apprenticeship Program ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value electrician schools. Located in the city of Sacramento, Independent Training And Apprenticeship Program is a small private for-profit university. Electrician graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Electrician graduates of Independent Training And Apprenticeship Program earn a median of $42,896 early in their careers.
Cet Colton ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value electrician schools. Located in the suburb of Colton, Cet Colton is a small private not-for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $6,983 to complete the electrician program here. Electrician graduates of Cet Colton earn a median of $31,655 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cet San Jose ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value electrician schools. Located in the city of San Jose, Cet San Jose is a small private not-for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $6,837 to complete the electrician program here. Early-career electrician graduates make about $28,998. That is a strong return on a $6,837 median debt.
Capstone College landed the #25 spot for electrician value this year. Located in the city of Pasadena, Capstone College is a small private for-profit university. Electrician graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, electrician degree recipients from Capstone College generally make around $38,740. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Electrician Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for electrician this year:
More Electrician Rankings
View All Electrician Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 58 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.
