Career Training Path › California › Santa Barbara City College
Santa Barbara City College
Santa Barbara, California · Public community college · Training programs available:
Address: 721 Cliff Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93109 · Phone: (805) 965-0581 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Santa Barbara City College is a public trade and career school in Santa Barbara, CA offering medical billing & coding, LPN/LVN, and auto mechanic programs, accredited by ACCJC and other bodies.
Per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, Santa Barbara City College has a 33.6% completion rate versus a 64.2% state average, with graduates carrying a median debt of $11,000 and median earnings of $47,647 ten years after entry.
Annual cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Santa Barbara City College; the school does participate in federal Title IV aid, and about 17.9% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical records specialists | $43,800 | $61,810 | $80,630 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $64,390 | $79,750 | $93,720 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $38,180 | $64,980 | $77,060 |
| Radiologic technologists and technicians | $70,210 | $121,260 | $137,770 |
| Chefs and head cooks | $37,380 | $64,500 | $81,040 |
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $35,360 | $38,660 | $49,030 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Associate degree | 60 | $39,332 | not reported | not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 41 | $40,140 | $46,087 | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 28 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Associate degree | 23 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 18 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 16 | not reported | $64,990 | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Associate degree | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Associate degree | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 4 | $40,140 | $46,087 | not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 4 | $40,140 | $46,087 | not reported |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | Associate degree | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 2–4 years | 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
Santa Barbara City College is a public community college located in Santa Barbara, California, a small city setting. The school participates in federal financial aid programs (Title IV), meaning eligible students can use FAFSA, federal loans, and Pell Grants to help cover costs. It carries accreditation from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. Among its 16 program families, the campus awards the most credentials in medical billing & coding programs, LPN/LVN programs, and auto mechanic schools.
Federal data show a completion rate of 33.6%, which is below the state average of 64.2%. Graduates who took out loans carried a median debt of $11,000, and median earnings ten years after entry were reported at $47,647. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 17.9% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a meaningful share of lower-income enrollment among the 9,889 undergraduates.
This campus may suit students pursuing shorter, career-focused certificates in fields like medical billing, nursing support, or automotive repair rather than a traditional four-year path, though specific program lengths are not detailed here. Adults changing careers should confirm program duration and schedule directly with the school. To verify accreditation status and review updated outcome data, prospective students can consult the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard or contact the college directly.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Santa Barbara City College offers 16 program families, with the most completions in medical billing & coding programs, LPN/LVN programs, and auto mechanic schools.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, it is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so eligible students can use FAFSA-based aid including Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 33.6%, 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 $11,000 according to federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings ten years after entry are reported at $47,647.
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 for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
This is a public school, which generally means lower tuition for state residents and eligibility for state-level funding, in addition to federal aid.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program lengths are not reported in the available federal data; contact the school directly at (805) 965-0581 or via its website for schedule details.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can review official accreditation and outcome data through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?122889.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The campus offers career-focused programs like medical billing & coding, LPN/LVN, and auto mechanics, though specific scheduling and program length details are not reported here; adults should confirm fit directly with the school.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing requirements vary by field, such as LPN licensure for nursing programs; this is not detailed in the available data, so contact the school for specifics.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Santa Barbara City College at (805) 965-0581 or through its website, https://www.sbcc.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data on nearby schools is not included in this listing; use the College Scorecard link to compare completion rates, debt, and earnings across institutions.
Nearby trade and career schools in California
- Santa Barbara City College Cosmetology AcademySanta Barbara, CA · state-licensed school
- Fillmore Area TransitGoleta, CA
- Zum Services Inc - Santa BarbaraGoleta, CA
- Unitek CollegeFremont, CA · college
- Carrington College-SacramentoSacramento, CA · college
- Gurnick Academy of Medical ArtsSan Jose, CA · college
- Santa Rosa Junior CollegeSanta Rosa, CA · 37% completion
- American Career College-Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA · 75% 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.