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Fullerton College

Fullerton, California · Public community college · Training programs available:

Cosmetology schoolsAuto mechanic schoolsConstruction trades programsWelding schools
34%completion rate · California avg 64%
$4,500median debt of graduates
$34,531median earnings, 6 yrs after entry
$43,366median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
not reportedannual cost of attendance
Yesfederal aid (FAFSA / Pell) eligible
Accreditation: Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (Accredited)
Address: 321 E Chapman Avenue, Fullerton, CA 92832 · Phone: (714) 992-7000 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Accountability record (federal accreditation database, last 36 months; Department of Education oversight)
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
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.

Fullerton College is a public trade school in Fullerton, California offering cosmetology, auto mechanic, and construction trades programs, accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.

Fullerton College has a 33.8% completion rate, below the California state average of 64.2%, with median graduate debt of $4,500 and median earnings of $43,366 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Annual cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Fullerton College; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used here, and 26.6% of students receive Pell Grants.

Completion rate vs. benchmarks
Fullerton College Fullerton College: 33.8% 33.8% 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)
Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists$35,360$38,660$49,030
Automotive service technicians and mechanics$38,180$64,980$77,060
Construction laborers$40,950$60,270$78,520
Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers$44,520$58,060$70,400

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
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services Certificate, 1–2 years 103 not reported not reported not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Certificate, 300–899 hours 26 not reported not reported not reported
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection Associate degree 17 not reported not reported not reported
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection Certificate, 300–899 hours 14 not reported not reported not reported
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services Associate degree 12 not reported not reported not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Certificate, 1–2 years 8 not reported not reported not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Associate degree 8 not reported not reported not reported
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection Associate degree 4 not reported not reported not reported
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 300–899 hours 4 not reported not reported not reported
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection Certificate, 300–899 hours 3 not reported not reported not reported
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection 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.

Visit the school's website ↗

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About this school

Fullerton College is a public trade and career training campus located in Fullerton, California. It is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, and federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used here since the school participates in Title IV programs. The campus offers 11 trade program families, with the most-awarded programs being cosmetology schools, auto mechanic schools, and construction trades programs.

Federal data shows a completion rate of 33.8%, which is below the California state average of 64.2%. Graduates who took on debt carried a median of $4,500, and median earnings 10 years after entry were $43,366. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 26.6% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a portion of the student body qualifies for need-based federal aid.

This campus, situated in a large suburb, enrolls over 17,000 undergraduates and has produced 201 trade program completers according to available data. The mix of programs, ranging from cosmetology to construction trades, may suit both recent high school graduates and adult career changers, though specific program lengths are not detailed here. Prospective students should verify current accreditation status directly with the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges and review the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard for the most current outcome figures before enrolling.

Questions students ask

What trade and career programs does this campus offer?

Fullerton College offers 11 trade program families, with the top programs being cosmetology schools, auto mechanic schools, and construction trades programs.

Is this school accredited, and by whom?

Yes, Fullerton College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.

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

Yes, Fullerton College 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 33.8%, which is below the California state average of 64.2%.

How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?

Graduates carry a median debt of $4,500 according to federal data.

What do graduates of this school earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entry are $43,366 according to federal data.

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 information.

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

Fullerton College is a public institution, which often means lower tuition costs and eligibility for state funding compared to for-profit schools.

How long do the programs here take to complete?

Program length is not reported in the available data; contact the school at (714) 992-7000 or visit https://www.fullcoll.edu/ for details.

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

You can verify accreditation status with the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges and review outcome data at the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?114859.

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

The available data does not specify program lengths or scheduling flexibility needed to assess fit for career changers; contact the school to discuss specific program formats.

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

This information is not reported in federal data; contact the school directly to learn about licensing requirements for specific programs.

How do I contact the school or apply?

You can reach Fullerton College at (714) 992-7000 or visit https://www.fullcoll.edu/ for application information.

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

This comparison is not available in the provided data; consult the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?114859 to compare similar schools.

Nearby trade and career schools in California

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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