Trade schools in San Jose, California provide South Bay residents with a range of vocational education options in many of the region’s most-popular career fields. Whether your goal is to earn credentials that will help you advance in your current profession, or receive the degree, certificate or diploma you need to launch a new career, these technical colleges represent a great resource.
In the following section, you’ll find information on accredited vocational schools in Santa Clara County. In addition to the programs listed here, you may also want to seek out online programs offered by national institutions.
Accredited Trade Schools in San Jose, CA
Academy for Salon Professionals
Website: www.academyforsalonprofessionals.com
Address: 2238 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, California 95050-4057
Phone: (408) 261-9201
Largest Program: Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Arts
Average Program Length: 12 months
Overall Graduation Rate: 85%
The Academy for Salon Professionals in Santa Clara is a Redken premier school that is fully accredited by the NACCAS, and features a learning environment that simulates a high-end salon. The campus offers programs in cosmetology, esthetics/skin care, and product lines.
BioHealth College
Website: www.biohealthcollege.edu
Address: 2665 N First St Ste 102, San Jose, California 95134
Phone: (408) 428-0208
Largest Program: Pharmacy Technician/Assistant
Average Program Length: 7 months
Overall Graduation Rate: 84%
BioHealth College is primarily a healthcare and biotechnology school that focuses its programs on small class sizes and personalized instruction. ACCET-accredited programs offered at the school average seven months in length, and include: biotechnology technician, pharmacy technician, medical assistant and business administration.
Carrington College – San Jose
Website: carrington.edu/schools/san-jose-california/
Address: 6201 San Ignacio Ave., San Jose, California 95119
Phone: (408) 960-0162
Largest Program: Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant
Average Program Length: 22 months
Overall Graduation Rate: 77%
Carrington College in San Jose is a healthcare-focused school that features simulation labs and clinics open to the public to assist students with their schooling. Programs offered at this campus include: criminal justice, dental assisting, dental hygiene, massage therapy, medical assisting, medical billing and coding, pharmacy technology, surgical technology, veterinary technology and vocational nursing.
Cogswell College
Website: www.cogswell.edu
Address: 1175 Bordeaux Drive, Sunnyvale, California 94089
Phone: (800) 264-7955
Largest Program: Fire Science/Fire-Fighting
Average Program Length: 4 years
Overall Graduation Rate: 68%
Sunnyvale’s Cogswell College is a cutting-edge polytechnical school located in the heart of Sunnyvale. The college awards bachelor’s degrees in digital art and animation, digital audio technology, game design and development, digital media management, engineering, and entrepreneurship and innovation.
Heald College – San Jose
Website: www.heald.edu
Address: 341 Great Mall Pky, Milpitas, California 95035-8008
Phone: (408) 934-4900
Largest Program: Medical/Clinical Assistant
Average Program Length: 24 months
Overall Graduation Rate: 49%
Heald College San Jose is a 56,000-square foot facility in Milpitas that includes its own medical and electronics labs for student use. This campus offers programs in healthcare, business, legal and technology.
Institute for Business and Technology
Website: ibttech.com
Address: 2400 Walsh Avenue, Santa Clara, California 95051-1303
Phone: (408) 727-1060 x260
Largest Program: Electrician
Average Program Length: 11 months
Overall Graduation Rate: 71%
The Institute for Business and Technology is a professional career school in Santa Clara that offers programs to those interested in becoming certified as an HVACR, electrician, EKG technician, phlebotomist, massage therapist, medical assistant, or medical billing and coding specialist.
International Culinary Center – California
Website: www.internationalculinarycenter.com
Address: 700 West Hamilton Avenue, Campbell, California 95008
Phone: (408) 370-9190
Largest Program: Culinary Arts/Chef Training
Average Program Length: 6 months
Overall Graduation Rate: N/A
Located in Campbell, the International Culinary Center offers award-winning programs to students interested in pursuing professional careers in the culinary arts. The ACCSC-accredited school features programs in culinary, pastry, restaurant management, and wine and beverage disciplines.
Marinello Schools of Beauty – Santa Clara
Website: www.marinello.com/beauty-schools/santa-clara-ca.aspx
Address: 955 Monroe St, Santa Clara, California 95050
Phone: (562) 945-2211
Largest Program: Cosmetology/Cosmetologist
Average Program Length: 10 months
Overall Graduation Rate: 54%
Marinello Schools of Beauty’s campus in Santa Clara is regularly ranked among the better cosmetology programs in the Bay Area, and is accredited by the NACCAS, the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, and the state Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. The school offers courses in cosmetology, esthetics, manicuring, nail technology, facial, body treatments, barbering, hair design, massage therapy, and teacher preparation.
The Art Institute of California – Silicon Valley
Website: new.artinstitutes.edu/silicon-valley
Address: 1120 Kifer Rd, Sunnyvale, California 94086
Phone: (408) 962-6400
Largest Program: Culinary Arts/Chef Training
Average Program Length: 24 months
Overall Graduation Rate: 58%
The Art Institute of California in Silicon Valley offers degree programs in multiple concentrations of design, media arts, fashion, and the culinary arts. This campus was established in 2008, and is accredited by the Senior College and University Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
The National Hispanic University
Website: www.nhu.edu
Address: 14271 Story Rd, San Jose, California 95127-3823
Phone: (408) 254-6900
Largest Program: Teacher Education – Postgraduate Certificate
Average Program Length: 24 months
Overall Graduation Rate: 33%
The National Hispanic University has a 30-year history of providing career education to Hispanic students in the Greater San Jose area. NHU is accredited by WSCUC, and offers associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs in business administration, child development, computer science, criminal justice, education, mathematics and science, psychology, and translation.
University of East-West Medicine
Website: www.uewm.edu
Address: 595 Lawrence Expressway, Sunnyvale, California 94085-3922
Phone: (408) 733-1878
Largest Program: Masters of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
Average Program Length: 24 months
Overall Graduation Rate: N/A
The University of East-West Medicine provides graduate-level education for those interested in becoming professional practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine. The university offers a Master of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine program as well as a Doctorate in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
University of Phoenix – Bay Area Campus
Website: www.phoenix.edu
Address: 3590 N First St, San Jose, California 95134-1805
Phone: (866) 766-0766
Largest Program: Business Administration and Management
Average Program Length: 4 years
Overall Graduation Rate: 15%
The Bay Area campus of University of Phoenix offers both on-campus and online degree programs in arts and sciences, business and management, criminal justice, education, human services, nursing and healthcare psychology and technology.