At InterCoast Colleges, a California trade school with campuses across the state, the total charges for a trade certificate are $18,000 for HVAC Technician, $18,000 for Plumbing Technician and $22,500 for the Electrical Training Program. These are the "Estimated Total Charges for the Entire Educational Program" printed in the schedule of tuition charges of the 2026-2027 Student Catalog (p. 88), revised October 13, 2026.
Trade school tuition at InterCoast Colleges, by program
| Program | Total program charges | Length |
|---|---|---|
| HVAC Technician | $18,000 | 32 weeks |
| Plumbing Technician | $18,000 | 32 weeks |
| Electrical Training Program | $22,500 | 40 weeks |
- HVAC Technician: two payment periods of $9,000, 39 academic credits, offered at West Covina, Riverside and Rancho Cordova.
- Plumbing Technician: two payment periods of $9,000, 40 academic credits. See the Plumbing Technician program page for campuses.
- Electrical Training Program: payment periods of $9,000, $9,000 and $4,500, 49 academic credits, offered at West Covina, Riverside, Rancho Cordova, Fairfield and Granada Hills.
All three are certificate programs taught in a hybrid format: online coursework plus hands-on lab work on campus. The schedule describes each total as "The Total Charges The Student is Obligated to Pay Upon Enrollment". The Program & Policy Guide prints each schedule line by line: HVAC Technician tuition, Plumbing Technician tuition and Electrical Training Program tuition.
The Electrical Training Program is approved by the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR). Students obtain an Electrical Trainee Card and build hours toward California licensure. The program is not approved in other states.
What else to know about the cost
- When tuition is due. The catalog states: "Tuition is due on the first-class session unless other arrangements have been made with the school and documented in the student's file" (p. 18).
- How to pay. "Tuition payments may be made through the school's online portal using a debit or credit card." Private payment arrangements "must be made, upon enrollment and approved in writing by the Campus President" (p. 18).
- Staying current. "The student must be up to date on tuition payment in order to attend the next term or class" (p. 18).
- The state STRF assessment. California residents who prepay all or part of their tuition must pay the state-imposed assessment for the Student Tuition Recovery Fund, or have it paid on their behalf, unless relieved of the obligation (p. 25).
How students pay for trade school
All three trade programs are eligible for federal student aid (Title IV). Across InterCoast, 80% of students received federal student loans in 2024, according to the college's 2024 annual report to the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education.
1. Federal grants
InterCoast Colleges is an eligible institution under the Federal Pell Grant and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) programs (catalog p. 20).
2. Federal student loans
The college also participates in Direct Loans, including Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans and Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) (p. 20). The catalog is clear that "the student is responsible to repay the full amount of the loan, accrued interest, less any refund."
3. The FAFSA
Students are asked to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Financial aid students must then follow up with the financial aid office to make sure no documents are missing or inconsistent, since that can delay eligibility and disbursements (p. 20).
4. Tuition assistance programs
InterCoast "participates in various tuition assistance programs, including but not limited to Veteran's Educational Benefits (VA), WIOA, TRA, Vocational and State Rehabilitation, tribal programs, alternative loan programs, and employer-sponsored programs," each approved by the agency providing it (p. 18).
5. A private payment arrangement
Students who pay part of their tuition themselves can set up a private payment arrangement at enrollment, approved in writing by the Campus President (p. 18).
Find out what you would pay
Financial aid staff can walk you through the aid you may qualify for. Visit Financial Services, read the financial aid policy, or call 877-CAREERS.