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Saddleback College
Mission Viejo, California · Public community college · Training programs available:
Address: 28000 Marguerite Pky, Mission Viejo, CA 92692 · Phone: (949) 582-4500 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Saddleback College is a public trade school in Mission Viejo, California, offering cosmetology, EMT and paramedic training, and auto mechanic programs, accredited by the ACCJC.
Saddleback College has a 48.0% completion rate, below the state average of 64.2%, with median graduate debt of $9,500 and median earnings of $50,874 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used at Saddleback College, where 15.2% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $35,360 | $38,660 | $49,030 |
| Emergency medical technicians | $38,740 | $46,380 | $59,180 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $38,180 | $64,980 | $77,060 |
| Chefs and head cooks | $37,380 | $64,500 | $81,040 |
| Medical assistants | $39,290 | $49,660 | $61,870 |
| Medical records specialists | $43,800 | $61,810 | $80,630 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 95 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 78 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 40 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 19 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 19 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 17 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 12 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Associate degree | 10 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 9 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 9 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Associate degree | 8 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | 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 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Associate degree | 2 | not reported | $9,167 | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 1 | 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
Saddleback College is a public trade and career school in Mission Viejo, California, located in a large suburb. It is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, and it participates in federal financial aid (Title IV) programs. The campus offers 21 program families, with the most-awarded trade programs being cosmetology (137 completers), EMT and paramedic training (91 completers), and auto mechanic training (39 completers). Other program areas include culinary arts, medical assistant training, medical billing and coding, and construction trades.
Federal data shows a completion rate of 48.0%, which is below the state average of 64.2%. Graduates who took out loans carried a median debt of $9,500, and median earnings ten years after entry were $50,874. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 15.2% of students receive Pell Grants, an indicator of the share of lower-income students served.
With 355 trade program completers among an undergraduate enrollment of 17,684, Saddleback College serves a large student population across many short-term and longer trade pathways. The mix of certificate-length programs, such as EMT training, alongside more extensive fields like cosmetology, may suit both first-time students and adult career changers, though program length details are not specified here. Prospective students should verify current accreditation status and review outcome data directly through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Saddleback College offers 21 program families, with the most completions in cosmetology (137), EMT and paramedic training (91), and auto mechanic training (39). Other areas include culinary arts, medical assistant training, medical billing and coding, and construction trades.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, Saddleback College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
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 48.0%, which is below the state average of 64.2%, according to federal data.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates who borrowed carry a median debt of $9,500, per federal Scorecard data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings ten years after entry are $50,874, 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 information.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Saddleback College is a public institution, which typically means lower tuition costs for in-state residents compared to private for-profit schools.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program length is not reported in the data provided; contact the school at (949) 582-4500 or visit its website for specific program duration details.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation status through the listed accreditors and review detailed outcome data at the College Scorecard link: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?122205.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The campus offers both short-term certificate programs like EMT training and longer programs like cosmetology, which may suit adult career changers, though specific scheduling or format details are not reported in this data.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can contact Saddleback College at (949) 582-4500 or visit https://www.saddleback.edu/ for application information.
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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.