Best colleges for Building/Construction Finishing in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
American River College, Orange Coast College and Fullerton College award the most Building/Construction Finishing degrees and certificates in California: 222, 75 and 74 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 51 California colleges offer Building/Construction Finishing and award 1,326 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection program equips students with the skills and knowledge necessary for various roles in the construction trades. This program is ideal for individuals interested in overseeing…
Top 2 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cabrillo College Aptos Public · Certificate | $47,566 | 32 | 38% | — | — |
| 2 | CET-San Diego San Diego Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $28,485 | 40 | 87% | $21,055 | $6,425 |
Colleges awarding the most Building/Construction Finishing degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American River College Sacramento Public | 222 | Not reported |
| 2 | Orange Coast College Costa Mesa Public | 75 | Not reported |
| 3 | Fullerton College Fullerton Public | 74 | Not reported |
| 4 | City College of San Francisco San Francisco Public | 58 | Not reported |
| 5 | Los Angeles Trade Technical College Los Angeles Public | 57 | Not reported |
| 6 | San Jose City College San Jose Public | 42 | Not reported |
| 7 | Long Beach City College Long Beach Public | 41 | Not reported |
| 8 | CET-San Diego San Diego Private not-for-profit | 40 | $28,485 |
| 9 | Mt San Antonio College Walnut Public | 39 | Not reported |
| 10 | Citrus College Glendora Public | 38 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 41 California colleges offering Building/Construction Finishing
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palo Verde College | Blythe | Public | 38 |
| CET-Santa Maria | Santa Maria | Private not-for-profit | 35 |
| CET-Watsonville | Watsonville | Private not-for-profit | 34 |
| Cabrillo College | Aptos | Public | 32 |
| Santiago Canyon College | Orange | Public | 31 |
| Cosumnes River College | Sacramento | Public | 29 |
| Fresno City College | Fresno | Public | 29 |
| CET-Oxnard | Oxnard | Private not-for-profit | 27 |
| Norco College | Norco | Public | 26 |
| College of the Sequoias | Visalia | Public | 24 |
| CET-El Centro | El Centro | Private not-for-profit | 23 |
| El Camino Community College District | Torrance | Public | 23 |
| San Diego Mesa College | San Diego | Public | 23 |
| Ventura College | Ventura | Public | 22 |
| College of the Canyons | Santa Clarita | Public | 20 |
| CET-Soledad | Soledad | Private not-for-profit | 19 |
| Coastline Community College (Online) | Fountain Valley | Public | 18 |
| Diablo Valley College | Pleasant Hill | Public | 17 |
| Hartnell College | Salinas | Public | 16 |
| Pasadena City College | Pasadena | Public | 16 |
| Laney College | Oakland | Public | 14 |
| Southwestern College | Chula Vista | Public | 13 |
| CET-Coachella | Coachella | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| College of the Desert | Palm Desert | Public | 11 |
| Imperial Valley College | Imperial | Public | 11 |
| Bakersfield College | Bakersfield | Public | 9 |
| Butte College | Oroville | Public | 9 |
| Los Angeles Valley College | Valley Glen | Public | 9 |
| Santa Barbara City College | Santa Barbara | Public | 9 |
| CET-Colton | Colton | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Cuesta College | San Luis Obispo | Public | 6 |
| Saddleback College | Mission Viejo | Public | 6 |
| College of San Mateo | San Mateo | Public | 5 |
| Mendocino College | Ukiah | Public | 3 |
| Santa Rosa Junior College | Santa Rosa | Public | 3 |
| Sierra College | Rocklin | Public | 3 |
| San Bernardino Valley College | San Bernardino | Public | 2 |
| College of Alameda | Alameda | Public | 1 |
| Palomar College | San Marcos | Public | 1 |
| Victor Valley College | Victorville | Public | 1 |
| Baldwin Park Adult & Community Education | Baldwin Park | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Construction and Building Inspectors (SOC 47-4011).
Top skills
What Construction and Building Inspectors earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Building/Construction Finishing programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Building/Construction Finishing degrees?+
American River College (222 graduates a year), Orange Coast College (75 graduates a year) and Fullerton College (74 graduates a year) award the most Building/Construction Finishing degrees and certificates in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 51 California colleges offer Building/Construction Finishing.
Which Building/Construction Finishing program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Cabrillo College tops the list at $47,566. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Construction and Building Inspectors earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Construction and Building Inspectors in California is $103,850 (median $101,290), across about 13,420 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Building/Construction Finishing program?+
The Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection program equips students with the skills and knowledge necessary for various roles in the construction trades. This program is ideal for individuals interested in overseeing…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, critical thinking, speaking, active listening, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Construction and Building Inspectors?+
The national job outlook is about -0.8% growth with around 14,800 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A High school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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