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Santa Ana College
Santa Ana, California · Public college
Address: 1530 W. 17th Street, Santa Ana, CA 92706 · Phone: (714) 564-6000 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Santa Ana College is a public trade school in Santa Ana, CA offering medical assistant, auto mechanic, and welding programs, accredited by ACCJC and other bodies.
Per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, graduates of Santa Ana College carry a median debt of $6,871 and earn a median of $43,552 ten years after entry; the campus completion rate is not reported.
Cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Santa Ana College; federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used here, and 16.0% 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 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $38,180 | $64,980 | $77,060 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $44,520 | $58,060 | $70,400 |
| Machinists | $37,440 | $57,190 | $74,210 |
| Chefs and head cooks | $37,380 | $64,500 | $81,040 |
| Pharmacy technicians | $42,850 | $55,110 | $65,590 |
| Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists | $47,180 | $73,950 | $84,740 |
| 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, 300–899 hours | 152 | not reported | $31,852 | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 74 | $31,125 | $46,087 | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 62 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 55 | $31,125 | $46,087 | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 55 | not reported | $42,682 | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 29 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 28 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 21 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 17 | not reported | $31,852 | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 16 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 9 | not reported | $42,682 | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 8 | $31,125 | $46,087 | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | Certificate, 1–2 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 Ana College is a public trade and career school located in Santa Ana, California, in a large-city setting. The campus is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, and the American Occupational Therapy Association's Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy, and it participates in federal Title IV financial aid, so eligible students can use FAFSA-based aid here. Among its 15 program families, the campus awards the most credentials in medical assistant programs (281 completers), auto mechanic schools (76), and welding schools (68), reflecting a strong hands-on, career-training focus.
In terms of outcomes, the state average completion rate for comparable programs is 64.2%, though this campus's own completion rate and its comparison to the state average are not reported for this campus in federal data. Graduates carry a median debt of $6,871, and median earnings ten years after entry are $43,552. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 16.0% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a modest share of low-income enrollment relative to the total undergraduate population of 22,485.
This campus may suit students pursuing hands-on, career-focused training in fields like medical assisting, automotive repair, or welding, given the volume of completers in those areas; specific program lengths and scheduling are not reported here, so career changers should confirm format and duration directly with the school. To verify accreditation status and full outcome data, prospective students can check the listed accreditors or search the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard using the school's official page.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Santa Ana College offers 15 program families including medical assistant programs, auto mechanic schools, welding schools, CNC machining, culinary, pharmacy tech, diesel mechanic, and construction trades programs. Its top completions are in medical assistant programs (281), auto mechanic schools (76), and welding schools (68).
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, Santa Ana College is accredited. Its accreditors include the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, and the American Occupational Therapy Association's Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this campus participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so students can use FAFSA-based aid, including Pell Grants, if eligible.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The campus's own completion rate and its comparison to the state average are not reported for this campus in federal data. The state average completion rate for similar programs is 64.2%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates of Santa Ana College carry a median debt of $6,871, per federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings for graduates ten years after entry are $43,552, per 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 and fee information.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Santa Ana College is a public institution, which often means lower tuition costs and eligibility for state-based funding compared to for-profit schools.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Specific program lengths are not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school to confirm program durations.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation through the listed accrediting bodies or review detailed outcome data on the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?121619.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The high number of completers in hands-on fields like medical assisting, auto mechanics, and welding suggests a career-training focus, but specific scheduling details for adult or career-changer students are not reported in federal data; contact the school to confirm fit.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Specific licensing or certification requirements are not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly for program-specific credentialing information.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Santa Ana College by phone at (714) 564-6000 or visit their website at https://www.sac.edu/ for application details.
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; use the College Scorecard to compare specific outcomes across institutions.
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.