Home › California › Diesel Mechanics schools
99 schools in California offer diesel mechanics-related programs, compared below on official cost, completion, and earnings data. Prefer to earn while you learn? 7 registered apprenticeship sponsors in California train diesel mechanics apprentices — see apprenticeships. Federal program data groups diesel mechanics with automotive technology and aviation maintenance — schools below may offer any of these.
California's Bureau of Automotive Repair says it plainly: a BAR license is not required to work as a general automotive repair mechanic, and that includes diesel technicians. The repair business must register with BAR as an Automotive Repair Dealer, and individual state licenses exist only for Smog Check inspectors/repair technicians and vehicle safety systems techs. For everyday diesel work, voluntary ASE T-series certification is the credential employers look for.
Official source: California Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR), Department of Consumer Affairs · Exam: None for general diesel work. State exams exist only for Smog Check inspector/repair technician licenses. Voluntary ASE T-series is the industry standard. · Typical requirement: None for general diesel repair — BAR states 'A BAR license is not required to work as a general automotive repair mechanic.' Smog Check repair technician licensing (only if doing smog work) requires ~2 years engine-performance experience plus BAR-specified training.
| School | City | Type | Net price / yr | Completion | Earnings (10 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| College of the Sequoias | Visalia | public | $480 | 33.7% | $39,092 |
| Skyline College | San Bruno | public | $1,738 | 26.7% | $55,702 |
| Imperial Valley College | Imperial | public | $1,115 | 40.2% | $34,487 |
| Irvine Valley College | Irvine | public | $2,090 | 31.3% | $49,156 |
| Hartnell College | Salinas | public | $2,039 | 16.2% | $44,316 |
| Victor Valley College | Victorville | public | $1,947 | 27% | $36,119 |
| San Joaquin Delta College | Stockton | public | $2,407 | 29.7% | $43,212 |
| Cerritos College | Norwalk | public | $2,424 | 30.2% | $41,156 |
| Yuba College | Marysville | public | $2,576 | 26.4% | $39,552 |
| West Valley College | Saratoga | public | $3,423 | 24.2% | $51,688 |
| Modesto Junior College | Modesto | public | $2,818 | 27.8% | $42,368 |
| San Diego Miramar College | San Diego | public | $3,337 | 22.2% | $48,224 |
| Santa Ana College | Santa Ana | public | $3,133 | 18.9% | $43,552 |
| Shasta College | Redding | public | $2,878 | 24.5% | $39,269 |
| College of the Canyons | Santa Clarita | public | $3,702 | 29.9% | $49,022 |
| Saddleback College | Mission Viejo | public | $4,152 | 28.5% | $50,874 |
| Pasadena City College | Pasadena | public | $3,864 | 32.7% | $43,937 |
| Hacienda La Puente Adult Education | La Puente | public | $3,536 | 82.7% | $39,271 |
| Citrus College | Glendora | public | $4,135 | 35.4% | $42,065 |
| Mission College | Santa Clara | public | $5,080 | 19.1% | $50,936 |
| Las Positas College | Livermore | public | $5,377 | 29.6% | $51,088 |
| Antelope Valley Community College District | Lancaster | public | $3,860 | 29.1% | $36,526 |
| Solano Community College | Fairfield | public | $4,669 | 26.3% | $44,170 |
| Cypress College | Cypress | public | $4,606 | 29.9% | $43,533 |
| Golden West College | Huntington Beach | public | $4,824 | 29.6% | $43,145 |
| De Anza College | Cupertino | public | $6,642 | 43.6% | $56,596 |
| Allan Hancock College | Santa Maria | public | $5,383 | 25.7% | $42,786 |
| San Diego Mesa College | San Diego | public | $5,814 | 23.1% | $45,120 |
| Chaffey College | Rancho Cucamonga | public | $5,672 | 27.3% | $42,975 |
| Butte College | Oroville | public | $5,520 | 36.3% | $41,810 |
| Merced College | Merced | public | $5,040 | 30.4% | $37,815 |
| Santa Rosa Junior College | Santa Rosa | public | $6,331 | 35% | $47,224 |
| Palomar College | San Marcos | public | $5,763 | 24.6% | $42,300 |
| Gavilan College | Gilroy | public | $6,542 | 17.1% | $47,169 |
| Mt San Antonio College | Walnut | public | $6,490 | 34.7% | $46,283 |
| Cosumnes River College | Sacramento | public | $5,981 | 21.7% | $42,446 |
| Fullerton College | Fullerton | public | $6,134 | 27.8% | $43,366 |
| El Camino Community College District | Torrance | public | $5,968 | 29.5% | $41,589 |
| City College of San Francisco | San Francisco | public | $6,906 | 22.5% | $45,805 |
| Orange Coast College | Costa Mesa | public | $7,203 | 32.9% | $47,348 |
| Sacramento City College | Sacramento | public | $6,614 | 18.9% | $42,214 |
| Long Beach City College | Long Beach | public | $6,202 | 24.3% | $38,870 |
| Sierra College | Rocklin | public | $7,245 | 31% | $45,294 |
| MiraCosta College | Oceanside | public | $7,339 | 28.4% | $43,845 |
| Los Medanos College | Pittsburg | public | $7,443 | 31.3% | $42,454 |
| Reedley College | Reedley | public | $6,814 | 30.4% | $38,493 |
| Mt San Jacinto Community College District | San Jacinto | public | $6,806 | 27.1% | $38,319 |
| Los Angeles Southwest College | Los Angeles | public | $5,964 | 17.9% | $32,172 |
| Chabot College | Hayward | public | $9,053 | 24.6% | $48,143 |
| College of the Redwoods | Eureka | public | $6,904 | 25.3% | $36,243 |
| American River College | Sacramento | public | $7,999 | 24.6% | $40,162 |
| College of Alameda | Alameda | public | $8,496 | 20.9% | $42,563 |
| Riverside City College | Riverside | public | $8,377 | 28.2% | $41,091 |
| Cuyamaca College | El Cajon | public | $6,618 | 26% | $32,435 |
| Mendocino College | Ukiah | public | $8,330 | 18.6% | $40,243 |
| Baldwin Park Adult & Community Education | Baldwin Park | public | $6,665 | 62.8% | $32,069 |
| Fresno City College | Fresno | public | $8,069 | 24.7% | $37,361 |
| Contra Costa College | San Pablo | public | $9,490 | 23.7% | $40,850 |
| Evergreen Valley College | San Jose | public | $12,414 | 27.9% | $53,077 |
| Santa Barbara City College | Santa Barbara | public | $11,315 | 30.7% | $47,647 |
| West Los Angeles College | Culver City | public | $9,634 | 18.2% | $38,537 |
| East Los Angeles College | Monterey Park | public | $10,852 | 26.7% | $42,006 |
| Cuesta College | San Luis Obispo | public | $12,124 | 34.8% | $46,047 |
| Monterey Peninsula College | Monterey | public | $11,373 | 16.2% | $42,176 |
| Copper Mountain Community College | Joshua Tree | public | $9,105 | 24.2% | $33,281 |
| College of Marin | Kentfield | public | $12,351 | 19.3% | $42,654 |
| Columbia College | Sonora | public | $11,316 | 23.9% | $39,035 |
| Los Angeles Pierce College | Woodland Hills | public | $13,270 | 26.7% | $44,521 |
| Southwestern College | Chula Vista | public | $12,671 | 29.5% | $40,060 |
| Rio Hondo College | Whittier | public | $14,379 | 18.8% | $44,950 |
| Lassen Community College | Susanville | public | $12,517 | 9.3% | $35,994 |
| Los Angeles Trade Technical College | Los Angeles | public | $12,323 | 20.2% | $35,233 |
| Barstow Community College | Barstow | public | $12,773 | 19.5% | $35,104 |
| Compton College | Compton | public | $12,647 | 18.7% | $34,181 |
| Bakersfield College | Bakersfield | public | $14,621 | 25.9% | $37,291 |
| College of the Desert | Palm Desert | public | $15,728 | 30.5% | $39,020 |
| CET-Colton | Colton | private nonprofit | $14,634 | 68.7% | $32,986 |
| San Bernardino Valley College | San Bernardino | public | $18,943 | 22.2% | $39,676 |
| CET-San Jose | San Jose | private nonprofit | $16,101 | 79.6% | $32,986 |
| Universal Technical Institute of California Inc | Rancho Cucamonga | private for-profit | $26,360 | 58.9% | $52,873 |
| Universal Technical Institute-Southern California | Long Beach | private for-profit | $27,506 | 68.2% | $52,873 |
| Palo Verde College | Blythe | public | $18,993 | 14.8% | $36,389 |
| Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology | Riverside | private for-profit | $32,601 | 72% | $61,575 |
| Spartan College of Aeronautics & Technology | Inglewood | private for-profit | $33,320 | 69.6% | $61,575 |
| Universal Technical Institute of Northern California Inc | Sacramento | private for-profit | $28,887 | 68.8% | $48,341 |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia | Visalia | private for-profit | $27,854 | 52.2% | $38,317 |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Trades Education Center | Fresno | private for-profit | $27,887 | 64.7% | $38,317 |
| UEI College-West Covina | West Covina | private for-profit | $27,414 | 65.7% | $31,141 |
| UEI College-Garden Grove | Garden Grove | private for-profit | $28,182 | 63% | $31,141 |
| UEI College-Chula Vista | Chula Vista | private for-profit | $28,606 | 67.9% | $31,141 |
| UEI College-Sacramento | Sacramento | private for-profit | $28,670 | 57.6% | $30,848 |
| UEI College-Gardena | Gardena | private for-profit | $28,691 | 66.9% | $30,848 |
| UEI College-Huntington Park | Huntington Park | private for-profit | $29,145 | 65.2% | $31,141 |
| UEI College-Oceanside | Oceanside | private for-profit | $29,253 | 67.3% | $31,141 |
| UEI College-Bakersfield | Bakersfield | private for-profit | $27,257 | 65.2% | $27,688 |
| UEI College-Fresno | Fresno | private for-profit | $28,282 | 58.2% | $27,688 |
| Oxnard College | Oxnard | public | $-1,128 | 27.1% | $41,393 |
| Ventura College | Ventura | public | $-982 | 31.4% | $43,430 |
| Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Fremont | Fremont | private for-profit | $29,428 | 53.5% | not reported |
Ranking = median earnings 10 years after entry per $1,000 of average yearly net price (methodology). Schools without both figures sort last — "not reported" means the federal dataset lacks the value, not that the school is bad.
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