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Class a CDL School Cost: The Same 160 Hours Runs $4,500 to $8,500

Class A CDL school cost depends on who you ask and what the price includes. We priced 30 Class A programs in 8 states and counted every Class A location in the federal registry. Here is what the middle looks like, how wide the spread is, and where a low price can mislead you.

Edited by Taylor Rupe, Founder & Editor Updated

The Headline Finding

$4,938

is the median published Class A CDL school price across 30 priced programs in 8 states, not a national average. 11 of them list the same 160 hours over four weeks and charge $4,500 to $8,500. The cheapest is $1,500 and the most expensive is $8,500.

Median pay for a heavy truck driver is $58,640 a year, so the median school price equals 8.4% of one year of pay, or about 4.4 weeks of it.

Key Findings on Class a CDL School Prices

  1. The most expensive program costs 5.7 times the cheapest: $8,500 against $1,500, among 30 priced programs.
  2. The 7 public colleges have a median of $3,500. The 23 private schools have a median of $5,450, which is $1,950 more.
  3. The 15 programs that publish a complete total with fees have a median of $6,943. The 15 that publish tuition or an advertised price have a median of $4,350.
  4. 11 programs list the same 160 hours over four weeks, and their prices run from $4,500 to $8,500.
  5. 17 of the 25 programs with published hours list 160 hours. The range is 150 to 286 hours, and 13 of 20 programs with a published length run four weeks.
  6. California has 16 priced programs with a median of $6,495 and a range of $2,100 to $8,500. Alabama has 3 community colleges with a median of $3,200.
  7. 2,757 of 4,497 registered training locations list full Class A training in the federal registry, and 560 of those are at a college or university.

How Much Do Class a CDL Schools Charge?

Each bar is one school's published Class A price, cheapest first. Public colleges are amber and private schools are dark. A price is a complete total with fees or a tuition figure, so check the table below before you compare two bars.

  • Public college
  • Private school
Published Class A CDL school price for 30 programs Horizontal bars sorted from $1,500 to $8,500. The median is $4,938. The full values are in the data table below. $0 $3,000 $6,000 $9,000 Georgia Piedmont Technical College, GA $1,500 Covenant Truck School, CA $2,100 Fremont Truck & Bus Driving School, CA $2,500 The Truck Master School Hayward, CA $2,500 The Truck Master School Fontana, CA $2,500 Trenholm State Community College, AL $3,175 Calhoun Community College, AL $3,200 Wallace State Community College, AL $3,500 AGT Trucking School, CA $4,300 Houston City College, TX $4,350 P. Steve Ramirez Training Centers, CA $4,500 Lincoln Land Community College, IL $4,500 160 Driving Academy Sacramento, CA $4,503 National Standard Trucking School, WA $4,675 Des Moines Area Community College, IA $4,900 New Sound CDL School, WA $4,975 SAGE Houston South, TX $4,995 Tacoma Truck School, WA $5,204 SAGE Salt Lake City, UT $5,450 Advanced Career Institute Fresno, CA $5,995 Commercial Driver School Lakewood, WA $6,943 Commercial Driver School Auburn, WA $6,955 GSF Los Angeles, CA $6,995 America Truck Driving School Riverside, CA $6,995 J&R Trucking School, CA $7,000 United Truck Driving School, CA $7,595 Academy of Truck Driving Oakland, CA $7,615 Roadmaster Fontana, CA $7,695 MTS Training Academy Sacramento, CA $8,298 Western Pacific Sacramento, CA $8,500
The dashed green line marks the $4,938 median. n = 30 programs in AL, CA, GA, IA, IL, TX, UT, WA.

Class a CDL School Cost by State

We hold published Class A prices for 8 states. California carries 16 of the 30 programs, so its median reflects a wide mix of schools. Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, and Utah each have one priced program, which is a single price and not a state median.

Class A CDL school price range and median by state For each state, a bar from the lowest to the highest published price with a marker at the median. California: median $6,495, 16 programs. Utah: median $5,450, 1 programs. Washington: median $5,204, 5 programs. Iowa: median $4,900, 1 programs. Texas: median $4,673, 2 programs. Illinois: median $4,500, 1 programs. Alabama: median $3,200, 3 programs. Georgia: median $1,500, 1 programs. $0 $3,000 $6,000 $9,000 California (n = 16), median $6,495 Utah (n = 1), median $5,450 Washington (n = 5), median $5,204 Iowa (n = 1), median $4,900 Texas (n = 2), median $4,673 Illinois (n = 1), median $4,500 Alabama (n = 3), median $3,200 Georgia (n = 1), median $1,500
Light bars span the lowest to highest price in each state. The dark marker is the median.

Where Class a CDL Training Is Registered

FMCSA's Training Provider Registry lists 4,497 in-person locations open to the public as of August 5, 2026. 2,757 register theory, range, and road training for Class A. The five biggest states hold 902 of them, or 33%. Public colleges and universities are 20% of the national count.

  • College or university
  • All other providers
Locations with full Class A training, top ten states Texas: 363 locations, 57 at colleges or universities. California: 272 locations, 16 at colleges or universities. New York: 91 locations, 12 at colleges or universities. Florida: 89 locations, 19 at colleges or universities. North Carolina: 87 locations, 42 at colleges or universities. Indiana: 83 locations, 2 at colleges or universities. Georgia: 79 locations, 42 at colleges or universities. Illinois: 78 locations, 25 at colleges or universities. Mississippi: 75 locations, 28 at colleges or universities. Pennsylvania: 73 locations, 16 at colleges or universities. Texas 363 California 272 New York 91 Florida 89 North Carolina 87 Indiana 83 Georgia 79 Illinois 78 Mississippi 75 Pennsylvania 73
Counts are registry locations that list theory, range, and road training for Class A. n = 2,757 locations in 50 states.

What the Class a CDL Price Gap Means

A median is a midpoint, not a quote. Half the programs here charge less than $4,938 and half charge more, and the middle half sits between $3,700 and $6,985. Your price depends on the school, the transmission, and what is bundled in.

The biggest trap is price basis. Tacoma Truck School lists $5,204 as a complete total with books, tax, a DOT physical, and licensing. A school that lists only tuition will look cheaper beside it. 15 of the 30 prices here are complete totals and 15 are not, so a fair comparison needs the full invoice for each school.

The four-week, 160-hour course is the common shape. Even there, prices span $4,000. Longer courses can cost less, since AGT Trucking School in Los Angeles lists up to 25 weeks of flexible sessions for $4,300, but the flexibility only helps if your schedule allows it.

What a Class a CDL Price Means for You

Budget the median first, then adjust. If a quote lands near $6,943, it probably includes fees. If it lands near $4,350, ask what is left out.

Check a public college early. In this set, the 7 colleges cost less than most private schools, and they often publish a single clear tuition figure.

If an employer will cover training, the sticker price matters less than the contract. Our paid CDL training guide lists the terms to read, and the funding options page covers grants and veteran benefits.

See the cost checklist Compare community colleges

Class a CDL School Prices in Every Priced Program

All 30 programs, cheapest first. Blank cells mean the school did not give a number for that column. Download the data (CSV).

Published Class A CDL school prices, 30 programs
School State Price Price basis Type Hours Weeks Source
Georgia Piedmont Technical CollegeLithonia GA $1,500 Tuition or advertised price Public college Georgia Piedmont Tech current catalog and fees
Covenant Truck SchoolLos Angeles CA $2,100 Tuition or advertised price Private school 150 Covenant Class A classes and deals
Fremont Truck & Bus Driving SchoolHayward CA $2,500 Complete listed total Private school Fremont Truck & Bus course page
The Truck Master School HaywardHayward CA $2,500 Tuition or advertised price Private school 160 Truck Master programs and payments
The Truck Master School FontanaFontana CA $2,500 Tuition or advertised price Private school 160 Truck Master programs and payments
Trenholm State Community CollegeMontgomery AL $3,175 Tuition or advertised price Public college 180 6 Trenholm State CDL Truck Driving program
Calhoun Community CollegeTanner AL $3,200 Tuition or advertised price Public college 160 Calhoun Community College CDL program
Wallace State Community CollegeHanceville AL $3,500 Tuition or advertised price Public college 160 Wallace State CDL program
AGT Trucking SchoolLos Angeles CA $4,300 Complete listed total Private school 180 25 AGT 2026 school catalog
Houston City CollegeHouston TX $4,350 Tuition or advertised price Public college 286 5 Houston City College Class A program
P. Steve Ramirez Training CentersFresno CA $4,500 Tuition or advertised price Private school 160 4 P. Steve Ramirez truck-driving page
Lincoln Land Community CollegeSpringfield IL $4,500 Tuition or advertised price Public college 4 Lincoln Land CDL Basic Dates and Itemized Costs
160 Driving Academy SacramentoSacramento CA $4,503 Complete listed total Private school 160 4 BPPE 2024 annual report (reported price)
National Standard Trucking SchoolMilton WA $4,675 Complete listed total Private school 160 4 Washington Career Bridge manual Class A record
Des Moines Area Community CollegeDes Moines area IA $4,900 Tuition or advertised price Public college DMACC CDL Course Prices, Prerequisites, and Driving Schedule
New Sound CDL SchoolFife WA $4,975 Tuition or advertised price Private school 4 New Sound Class A Manual program
SAGE Houston SouthHouston TX $4,995 Tuition or advertised price Private school 150 12 SAGE Houston South 2025 catalog
Tacoma Truck SchoolTacoma WA $5,204 Complete listed total Private school 160 4 Washington Career Bridge Tacoma Truck School program
SAGE Salt Lake CitySalt Lake City UT $5,450 Complete listed total Private school 150 8 SAGE Salt Lake City 2026 catalog
Advanced Career Institute FresnoFresno CA $5,995 Complete listed total Private school 160 4 ACI 2026 California catalog
Commercial Driver School LakewoodLakewood WA $6,943.33 Complete listed total Private school 160 4 Washington Career Bridge Class A record
Commercial Driver School AuburnAuburn WA $6,954.98 Complete listed total Private school 160 4 Washington Career Bridge Auburn Class A record
GSF Los AngelesLos Angeles CA $6,995 Tuition or advertised price Private school 180 GSF 2026 school catalog
America Truck Driving School RiversideRiverside CA $6,995 Tuition or advertised price Private school 200 6 2025 official catalog
J&R Trucking SchoolFresno CA $7,000 Complete listed total Private school 160 J&R 2026 school catalog
United Truck Driving SchoolSan Diego CA $7,595 Complete listed total Private school 160 4 United 2026–27 catalog (price and hours)
Academy of Truck Driving OaklandOakland CA $7,615 Complete listed total Private school 160 10 Academy of Truck Driving 2026 catalog
Roadmaster FontanaFontana CA $7,695 Complete listed total Private school 160 4 Roadmaster California catalog
MTS Training Academy SacramentoSacramento CA $8,298 Complete listed total Private school 160 4 MTS 2025-26 school catalog
Western Pacific SacramentoSacramento CA $8,500 Complete listed total Private school 160 4 Western Pacific 2026 catalog

Class a CDL Training Locations by State

Every state's registry counts as of August 5, 2026. Open a state to see its schools. Download the state table (CSV).

FMCSA registry locations and Class A training by state
State Registered locations Any Class A training Full Class A training Full Class A at colleges
Alabama 79 61 51 25
Alaska 12 12 8 0
Arizona 81 45 39 7
Arkansas 67 46 43 14
California 519 330 272 16
Colorado 68 49 43 12
Connecticut 19 7 6 0
Delaware 16 16 12 2
Florida 133 109 89 19
Georgia 98 87 79 42
Hawaii 31 29 26 1
Idaho 43 36 30 1
Illinois 133 118 78 25
Indiana 170 93 83 2
Iowa 58 48 41 10
Kansas 50 45 39 13
Kentucky 84 63 56 2
Louisiana 80 61 55 6
Maine 44 30 23 6
Maryland 82 66 53 4
Massachusetts 34 16 10 0
Michigan 55 55 46 4
Minnesota 53 40 34 13
Mississippi 121 83 75 28
Missouri 110 78 68 19
Montana 72 51 47 5
Nebraska 52 46 35 9
Nevada 23 22 17 4
New Hampshire 19 19 13 1
New Jersey 222 98 67 0
New Mexico 60 37 30 6
New York 184 111 91 12
North Carolina 101 97 87 42
North Dakota 32 24 22 9
Ohio 65 65 51 17
Oklahoma 105 68 61 12
Oregon 55 37 33 8
Pennsylvania 147 84 73 16
Rhode Island 4 2 2 0
South Carolina 58 47 46 10
South Dakota 35 25 19 5
Tennessee 91 61 52 12
Texas 469 411 363 57
Utah 76 73 59 15
Vermont 12 8 5 0
Virginia 105 68 55 7
Washington 132 79 66 9
West Virginia 42 37 29 8
Wisconsin 73 68 54 16
Wyoming 23 23 21 9
United States 4,497 3,284 2,757 560

How We Calculated Class a CDL School Cost

  • Prices. 30 Class A courses at 30 school locations in 8 states, taken from the school, state, or catalog source linked in each table row. One price per school location. We used the full Class A course with no prior experience.
  • Price basis. A complete listed total includes the fees the school itemizes. A tuition or advertised price may leave out fees. Georgia Piedmont's $1,500 is the 9-credit tuition plus its published fuel and drug-testing fees, without semester fees. Lincoln Land adds $146 in medical and record charges outside its $4,500.
  • Median and spread. The median is the middle of the 30 prices. We also report the 25th and 75th percentiles. State medians with fewer than three programs describe those programs only.
  • Registry counts. FMCSA Training Provider Registry file dated August 5, 2026, filtered to active, in-person, publicly enrolling locations with at least one training registration, then deduplicated by provider name and address. "Full Class A" means theory, range, and road are all registered. "College" means the provider name contains college, university, technical, career center, or school district wording.
  • Wage figure. The $58,640 national median for heavy and tractor-trailer drivers is from BLS OEWS, May 2025.
  • Excluded. Schools without a published Class A price, Class B and refresher courses, and add-on endorsement courses. A registry listing is a self-certification, not an endorsement of quality.

Read the full site methodology and the FMCSA registry file behind these counts.

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Class a CDL School Cost Questions

How Much Does Class a CDL School Cost?
Across the 30 Class A programs priced in this report, the median published price is $4,938. The middle half of programs falls between $3,700 and $6,985, and single programs run from $1,500 to $8,500.
Are Community College CDL Programs Cheaper Than Private Schools?
In this set they are. The 7 public colleges have a median of $3,500, while the 23 private schools have a median of $5,450. College prices are usually tuition, though, and several private schools list a complete total.
Why Do Two 160-Hour Class a Courses Cost So Differently?
Among the 11 programs that list 160 hours over four weeks, prices run from $4,500 to $8,500. Some quote a complete total with fees, books, and licensing, and others quote tuition alone. Ask for the full invoice before comparing.
Does This Report Cover Every State?
The price figures cover 8 states where we hold published Class A prices. The federal registry counts cover all 50 states and describe how many locations are registered for full Class A training, not what they charge.

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