Career Training Path › California › Cerro Coso Community College
Cerro Coso Community College
Ridgecrest, California · Public community college · Training programs available:
Address: 3000 College Heights Blvd, Ridgecrest, CA 93555 · Phone: (760) 384-6100 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Cerro Coso Community College is a public trade and career school in Ridgecrest, California, offering welding, medical assistant, and LPN/LVN programs, accredited by the ACCJC.
Cerro Coso Community College has a 24.7% completion rate, below the state average of 64.2%, and median earnings 10 years after entry of $34,963, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Median graduate debt is not reported for this campus.
Cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Cerro Coso Community College; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid, including Pell Grants, can be used, and about 15.5% of students receive Pell.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $44,520 | $58,060 | $70,400 |
| Medical assistants | $39,290 | $49,660 | $61,870 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $64,390 | $79,750 | $93,720 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in California (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 25 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 20 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 19 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Associate degree | 12 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 11 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Cerro Coso Community College is a public community college in Ridgecrest, California, accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used here. The campus awards trade and career credentials across several program families, with the largest being welding schools, medical assistant programs, and LPN/LVN programs, totaling seven program families and 94 trade completers.
Federal data shows a completion rate of 24.7%, which is below the state average of 64.2%. Median earnings 10 years after entry among completers are reported at $34,963. About 15.5% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a portion of the student body has financial need. Median debt of graduates and annual cost of attendance are not reported for this campus in federal data.
This campus, located in a fringe rural setting, offers a mix of shorter certificate-style programs (like welding and medical assisting) and longer clinical training (like LPN/LVN), which may appeal to adult learners or career changers seeking hands-on trade skills without a four-year commitment. Because program length and scheduling details are not specified in the data provided, prospective students should contact the school directly to confirm program format and duration. To verify accreditation status and outcome data independently, check the ACCJC accreditor listing and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Cerro Coso Community College offers seven program families in trade and career training, led by welding schools, medical assistant programs, and LPN/LVN programs.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the college is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), and its status is listed as Accredited.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 24.7%, which is below the California state average of 64.2%, per federal data.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt of graduates is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school or check the College Scorecard link for more detail.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $34,963, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Cerro Coso Community College is a public institution, which typically means lower tuition and eligibility for state funding compared with for-profit schools.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program lengths are not specified in the data provided; contact the school at (760) 384-6100 or visit its website to confirm program duration.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation through the ACCJC and review federal outcome data at the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?111896.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The campus offers a mix of shorter trade certificate programs and longer clinical training like LPN/LVN, which may suit adult learners seeking practical skills, though specific scheduling details are not reported in the data.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing and certification requirements are not specified in the data provided; contact the school directly to confirm requirements for programs like LPN/LVN or medical assisting.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Cerro Coso Community College by phone at (760) 384-6100 or visit https://cerrocoso.edu/ for application details.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data on nearby schools is not included in this dataset; check the College Scorecard link to compare completion rates, costs, and earnings across institutions.
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Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.