Career Training Path › California › Palo Verde College
Palo Verde College
Blythe, California · Public community college · Training programs available:
Address: One College Drive, Blythe, CA 92225 · Phone: (760) 921-5500 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Palo Verde College is a public trade and career school in Blythe, California, offering welding, CNA, and auto mechanic programs, accredited by the ACCJC.
Palo Verde College's completion rate is 30.5%, below the state average of 64.2%, and median graduate earnings 10 years after entry are $36,389, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Palo Verde College; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid, including Pell Grants, can be used here, with 11.6% of students receiving 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 |
| Nursing assistants | $40,110 | $47,630 | $54,800 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $38,180 | $64,980 | $77,060 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $64,390 | $79,750 | $93,720 |
| Construction laborers | $40,950 | $60,270 | $78,520 |
| Phlebotomists | $45,490 | $56,040 | $62,790 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 58 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 20 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 15 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 9 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | Associate degree | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | Certificate, under 300 hours | 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
Palo Verde College is a public community college in Blythe, 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 is located in a distant rural setting and awards trade credentials most often in welding, with additional completions in CNA classes and auto mechanic training. Across its seven program families, the school also offers coursework in LPN programs, construction trades, and phlebotomy.
Federal data shows a completion rate of 30.5%, which is below the state average of 64.2% for similar programs. Median earnings for graduates 10 years after entry are reported at $36,389. About 11.6% of students receive Pell Grants, pointing to a modest share of low-income enrollment. Median debt of graduates and the annual cost of attendance are not reported for this campus in federal data.
With 111 trade completers out of an undergraduate enrollment of 3,381, Palo Verde College's trade programs represent a portion of a larger public college serving its rural service area. Because welding and CNA training are the largest program families here, the campus may suit students seeking hands-on, skills-based instruction, though specific program lengths are not detailed in this data. Anyone considering enrollment should verify current accreditation status directly with the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges and review outcome data on the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard before applying.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Palo Verde College offers seven trade program families, most notably welding schools, CNA classes, and auto mechanic schools, along with LPN programs, construction trades, and phlebotomy classes.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, Palo Verde College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, 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 here.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 30.5%, which is below the state average of 64.2%, according to 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 at (760) 921-5500 or check the College Scorecard link for updates.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $36,389 for this campus.
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 at (760) 921-5500 or visit its website for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Palo Verde College is a public institution, which typically means lower tuition rates for state residents and eligibility for state funding support.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program length is not reported in the available data. Contact the school directly at (760) 921-5500 or visit paloverde.edu for program schedules.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can confirm accreditation status with the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges and review official outcome data on the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard at the linked URL.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing career?
Specific fit for career changers is not detailed in this data, since program lengths and formats aren't reported; contact the school to discuss options.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Palo Verde College at (760) 921-5500 or through its website at paloverde.edu.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
This data does not include comparisons with other schools; consult the College Scorecard to compare completion rates and earnings across nearby institutions.
Nearby trade and career schools in California
- California Nurses Educational InstitutePalm Springs, CA · 81% completion
- Imperial Valley CollegeImperial, CA · 45% completion
- CET-El CentroEl Centro, CA · 93% completion
- College of the DesertPalm Desert, CA · 31% completion
- San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho MirageRancho Mirage, CA · 70% completion
- CET-CoachellaCoachella, CA · 84% completion
- Beaumont Adult SchoolBeaumont, CA · 100% completion
- Copper Mountain Community CollegeJoshua Tree, CA · 20% completion
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.