Career Training Path › California › CET-Santa Maria
CET-Santa Maria
Santa Maria, California · Private non-profit career school · Training programs available:
Address: 509 W Morrison Ave, Santa Maria, CA 93458 · Phone: (408) 287-7924 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
CET-Santa Maria is a private non-profit trade school in Santa Maria, California offering medical assistant and construction trades programs, accredited by the Council on Occupational Education.
CET-Santa Maria has a 77.3% completion rate, above the state average of 64.2%; graduates carry 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-Santa Maria is $22,703, and federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used since the school participates in Title IV; 58.9% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical assistants | $39,290 | $49,660 | $61,870 |
| 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
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 56 | $26,684 | $24,098 | $6,246 |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | Certificate, 1–2 years | 13 | $25,247 | $22,094 | $6,323 |
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
CET-Santa Maria is a private non-profit trade and career school located in Santa Maria, California. It is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education and participates in federal Title IV financial aid, meaning students may use FAFSA, Pell Grants, and federal loans to help pay for their education. The campus's two main program families are medical assistant programs and construction trades programs, with medical assistant training accounting for the largest share of completions (56), followed by construction trades (13).
Federal data shows a completion rate of 77.3%, which is above the California state average of 64.2%. Graduates of this campus carry a median debt of $7,041, and median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $32,986. Annual cost of attendance is listed at $22,703, and 58.9% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a substantial share of the student body qualifies for need-based federal aid.
With 142 undergraduate students and 69 trade completers reported, this is a smaller campus focused on concentrated program offerings rather than a broad catalog. The programs, both medical assistant and construction trades, are typically structured as shorter, career-focused training rather than multi-year degree programs, which may suit students seeking a faster path into the workforce, though exact program lengths are not reported for this campus in federal data. Prospective students should confirm current accreditation status directly with the Council on Occupational Education and review the school's outcomes on the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
CET-Santa Maria offers medical assistant programs and construction trades programs, with medical assistant training being the larger of the two (56 completions vs. 13 in construction trades).
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, CET-Santa Maria is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education, and its accreditation 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 aid programs, so students can use FAFSA, Pell Grants, and federal loans. About 58.9% of students at this campus receive Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 77.3%, 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 listed at $22,703.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
CET-Santa Maria is a private non-profit institution. Non-profit status can affect tuition structure and institutional priorities, though specific comparisons are not reported in this data.
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 visit https://www.cetweb.edu/ for specifics.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation through the Council on Occupational Education and review federal outcome data on the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?381325.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The campus's focus on medical assistant and construction trades programs, both typically shorter career-focused offerings, may suit students seeking a quicker path into the workforce, though specific program lengths and career-changer accommodations are not reported in federal data.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing or certification requirements are not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly to confirm what credentials its medical assistant and construction trades programs prepare graduates for.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach CET-Santa Maria by phone at (408) 287-7924 or through its website at https://www.cetweb.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data with other nearby schools is not reported for this campus in federal data; check the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?381325 to compare outcomes 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.