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CET-San Jose

San Jose, California · Private non-profit career school · Training programs available:

Electrician schoolsAuto mechanic schoolsHVAC schoolsMedical assistant programsCulinary & pastry schoolsConstruction trades programs
81%completion rate · California avg 64%
$7,041median debt of graduates
$33,264median earnings, 6 yrs after entry
$32,986median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$24,566annual cost of attendance
Yesfederal aid (FAFSA / Pell) eligible
Accreditation: Council on Occupational Education (Accredited)
Address: 701 Vine St, San Jose, CA 95110 · Phone: (408) 287-7924 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Accountability record (federal accreditation database, last 36 months; Department of Education oversight)
Sanction on record, not yet lifted — Jun 2025 · Warning or Equivalent-Factors Affecting Academic Quality · Council on Occupational Education; Dec 2023 · Renewal of Accreditation. 4 sanction actions in the window.
Sanctions are probation, warning, show-cause and loss-of-accreditation actions by any recognized accreditor, including program-specific accreditors (a nursing-program probation counts for the campus). Routine monitoring reviews and voluntary withdrawals are not counted. Ask the school what the action concerned and how it was resolved.

CET-San Jose is a private non-profit trade school in San Jose, California, offering electrician, auto mechanic, and HVAC programs, accredited by the Council on Occupational Education.

CET-San Jose has an 80.6% completion rate versus a 64.2% state average, with graduates carrying a median debt of $7,041 and median earnings of $32,986 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Annual cost of attendance at CET-San Jose is reported at $24,566, federal financial aid such as FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used here, and 52.5% of students receive Pell Grants.

Completion rate vs. benchmarks
CET-San Jose CET-San Jose: 80.6% 80.6% California average California average: 64.2% 64.2% National average National average: 62.1% 62.1%

What these trades pay once you're working

OccupationStarting (10th pct)MedianExperienced (75th)
Electricians$46,800$76,160$103,000
Automotive service technicians and mechanics$38,180$64,980$77,060
HVAC and refrigeration mechanics and installers$46,950$72,560$90,780
Medical assistants$39,290$49,660$61,870
Chefs and head cooks$37,380$64,500$81,040
Construction laborers$40,950$60,270$78,520

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

ProgramCredentialGrads / yrEarnings, yr 1Earnings, yr 2Median debt
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers Certificate, 1–2 years 69 not reported $29,685 not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Certificate, 300–899 hours 23 $26,997 $27,126 $7,251
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) Certificate, 1–2 years 14 $32,866 $31,964 $6,160
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services Certificate, 1–2 years 11 $26,684 $24,098 $6,246
Culinary Arts and Related Services Certificate, 300–899 hours 9 $25,092 $24,615 not reported
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection Certificate, 1–2 years 1 $25,247 $22,094 $6,323
Culinary Arts and Related Services Certificate, 300–899 hours 1 $25,092 $24,615 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.

Visit the school's website ↗

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About this school

CET-San Jose is a private non-profit trade and career training campus located in San Jose, California. It is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education, and students here can use federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, to help pay for programs. Across seven program families, the campus most commonly awards credentials in electrician schools, auto mechanic schools, and HVAC schools, with electrician training being the largest program by far.

Federal data shows a completion rate of 80.6%, which is above the state average of 64.2%. Graduates carry a median debt of $7,041, which is relatively low, and median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $32,986. Annual cost of attendance is listed at $24,566, and 52.5% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a substantial share of lower-income students enrolled.

With 266 undergraduate students and 128 trade program completers reported, this is a compact campus focused on hands-on trade instruction in a large-city setting. The program mix and enrollment size suggest a fit for students seeking focused, skills-based training rather than a traditional multi-year degree path, though specific program lengths are not reported for this campus in federal data. Prospective students should verify current accreditation status directly with the Council on Occupational Education and review the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard for the most up-to-date federal outcome figures before enrolling.

Questions students ask

What trade and career programs does this campus offer?

CET-San Jose offers seven program families, most notably electrician schools, auto mechanic schools, and HVAC schools, along with medical assistant, culinary, and construction trades programs.

Is this school accredited, and by whom?

Yes, CET-San Jose is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education, and its current status is listed as Accredited.

Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?

Yes, this campus participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so students can use FAFSA and Pell Grants.

What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?

The completion rate is 80.6%, which is above the California state average of 64.2%.

How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?

Graduates carry a median debt of $7,041, according to federal data.

What do graduates of this school earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $32,986.

How much does it cost to attend for a year?

The annual cost of attendance is reported at $24,566.

Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?

CET-San Jose is a private non-profit school, which typically means it reinvests revenue into programs rather than distributing profits to owners.

How long do the programs here take to complete?

Program lengths are not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly at (408) 287-7924 or via https://cetweb.edu/ for specifics.

How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?

You can confirm accreditation with the Council on Occupational Education and review official outcome data on the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?111717.

Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?

The campus offers focused trade programs like electrician and HVAC training in a large-city setting, which may suit career changers, though specific scheduling and format details are not reported in federal data.

What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?

Licensing and certification requirements are not reported in federal data; contact the school directly for information relevant to specific trades.

How do I contact the school or apply?

You can reach CET-San Jose by phone at (408) 287-7924 or through its website at https://cetweb.edu/.

How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?

Comparative data with other nearby schools is not reported in federal data; the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?111717 can be used to compare individual school metrics.

Other trade and career schools in San Jose, CA

See all trade and career schools in California or search by ZIP code.

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.

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