Best colleges for Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
Mt San Antonio College, Carrington College - Pleasant Hill Campus and San Joaquin Valley College - Fresno are the top Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians programs in California by graduate earnings. Mt San Antonio College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,929, College Scorecard. Platt College - Los Angeles, Pima Medical Institute - Chula Vista and Pima Medical Institute - San Marcos award the most Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians degrees and certificates in California: 250, 157 and 142 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 32 California colleges offer Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians and award 1,640 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians program prepares students for a career in veterinary medicine, focusing on the care and treatment of animals. This program is ideal for individuals passionate about animal health and…
Top 7 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 | Mt San Antonio College Walnut Public · Associate degree | $40,929 | 25 | 45% | — | — |
| 2 | Carrington College - Pleasant Hill Campus Pleasant Hill Private for-profit · Associate degree | $36,236 | 49 | 59% | $32,161 | $20,000 |
| 3 | San Joaquin Valley College - Fresno Fresno Private for-profit · Certificate | $29,721 | 97 | 62% | $24,542 | $10,864 |
| 4 | Central Coast College Salinas Private for-profit · Certificate | $27,112 | 54 | 67% | $27,488 | — |
| 5 | Pima Medical Institute - Chula Vista Chula Vista Private for-profit · Certificate | $25,638 | 157 | 62% | $22,240 | $8,227 |
| 6 | Butte County Regional Occupational Program Chico Public · Certificate Small program | $29,437 | 17 | 88% | — | — |
| 7 | San Joaquin Valley College - Visalia Visalia Private for-profit · Associate degree Small program | $27,027 | 2 | 36% | $30,518 | $10,864 |
Colleges awarding the most Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians 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 | Platt College - Los Angeles Alhambra Private for-profit | 250 | Not reported |
| 2 | Pima Medical Institute - Chula Vista Chula Vista Private for-profit | 157 | $25,638* |
| 3 | Pima Medical Institute - San Marcos San Marcos Private for-profit | 142 | $25,638* |
| 4 | High Desert Medical College Lancaster Private for-profit | 117 | Not reported |
| 5 | San Joaquin Valley College - Fresno Fresno Private for-profit | 97 | $29,721* |
| 6 | Modesto Junior College Modesto Public | 88 | Not reported |
| 7 | San Joaquin Valley College - Bakersfield Bakersfield Private for-profit | 57 | $29,721* |
| 8 | Central Coast College Salinas Private for-profit | 54 | $27,112 |
| 9 | San Joaquin Valley College - Ontario Ontario Private for-profit | 54 | Not reported |
| 10 | Carrington College - Pleasant Hill Campus Pleasant Hill Private for-profit | 49 | $36,236 |
ShowHide the other 22 California colleges offering Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Veterinary Technologists and Technicians (SOC 29-2056).
Top skills
What Veterinary Technologists and Technicians earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians degrees?+
Platt College - Los Angeles (250 graduates a year), Pima Medical Institute - Chula Vista (157 graduates a year) and Pima Medical Institute - San Marcos (142 graduates a year) award the most Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians degrees and certificates in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 32 California colleges offer Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians.
What is the best college for Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians in California?+
By graduate earnings, Mt San Antonio College leads among Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,929, College Scorecard. Carrington College - Pleasant Hill Campus and San Joaquin Valley College - Fresno follow. By degrees awarded, Platt College - Los Angeles is the largest, with 250 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Mt San Antonio College tops the list at $40,929. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Veterinary Technologists and Technicians earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians in California is $61,400 (median $60,630), across about 11,310 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians program?+
The Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians program prepares students for a career in veterinary medicine, focusing on the care and treatment of animals. This program is ideal for individuals passionate about animal health and…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, reading comprehension, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians?+
The national job outlook is about +9.1% growth with around 14,300 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Associate's degree 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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