California · Ground Transportation

Best colleges for Ground Transportation in California

Ranked by graduate earnings

Advanced Career Institute, CET-Soledad and Butte College award the most Ground Transportation degrees and certificates in California: 952, 68 and 48 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 11 California colleges offer Ground Transportation and award 1,193 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Ground Transportation program focuses on the essential skills and knowledge required for the effective movement of people and goods using land-based routes. This program is ideal for individuals interested in pursuing careers in…

Institutions
11
offering CIP 49.02
States offered
44
with a program page
Degrees / yr
1,193
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$34,665
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
3
College Scorecard
Median net price
$19,396
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
51%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity
$66,930
BLS OEWS May 2025

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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Advanced Career Institute
Visalia Private for-profit · Certificate
$38,65195281%—$6,201
2CET-Soledad
Soledad Private not-for-profit · Certificate
$34,6656881%$13,944$6,650

Colleges awarding the most Ground Transportation 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.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. * Campuses that share a federal aid ID report one College Scorecard figure.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Advanced Career Institute
Visalia Private for-profit
952$38,651
2CET-Soledad
Soledad Private not-for-profit
68$34,665*
3Butte College
Oroville Public
48Not reported
4CET-El Centro
El Centro Private not-for-profit
42$34,665*
5Victor Valley College
Victorville Public
30Not reported
6Los Angeles Trade Technical College
Los Angeles Public
13Not reported
7Coalinga College
Coalinga Public
12Not reported
8College of Marin
Kentfield Public
4Not reported
9San Diego City College
San Diego Public
4Not reported
10Sacramento City College
Sacramento Public
3Not reported
Show the other 1 California colleges offering Ground Transportation
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Shasta CollegeReddingPublic17

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity (SOC 53-3052).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+4.3%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~20,900
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$57,440
typically High school diploma or equivalent

Top skills

Critical ThinkingActive ListeningMonitoringSpeakingReading ComprehensionActive Learning

What Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity earn in California

Jobs in California
24,380
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$66,930
median $67,130
Best-paying metro
$76,190
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

Related careers

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
$62,020 avg · 205,090 jobs
Light Truck Drivers
$53,310 avg · 111,950 jobs
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
$50,360 avg · 89,620 jobs
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
$94,000 avg · 36,020 jobs
Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs
$46,500 avg · 29,940 jobs
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity
$66,930 avg · 24,380 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Ground Transportation programs in California.

Which California colleges award the most Ground Transportation degrees?+

Advanced Career Institute (952 graduates a year), CET-Soledad (68 graduates a year) and Butte College (48 graduates a year) award the most Ground Transportation degrees and certificates in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 11 California colleges offer Ground Transportation.

Which Ground Transportation program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Advanced Career Institute tops the list at $38,651. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity earn in California?+

The average annual wage for Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity in California is $66,930 (median $67,130), across about 24,380 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Ground Transportation program?+

The Ground Transportation program focuses on the essential skills and knowledge required for the effective movement of people and goods using land-based routes. This program is ideal for individuals interested in pursuing careers in…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop critical thinking, active listening, monitoring, speaking, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity?+

The national job outlook is about +4.3% growth with around 20,900 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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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