Compare CDL Schools for Bus Drivers by Class B Price
| Rank | School and Campus | Course | Published Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Fremont Truck & Bus Driving School Hayward, CA | Class B or Class B-P | $1,800 |
| #2 | Houston City College Houston, TX | Commercial Truck Driver Class B CDL, I.C. | $2,150 |
| #3 | Western Pacific Truck School - Sacramento Sacramento, CA | Class B Commercial Driver | $5,575 |
| #4 | Commercial Driver School - Lakewood Lakewood, WA | Class B Bus Training | $5,622 |
| #5 | Trenholm State Community College Montgomery, AL | Class B Truck Driving Certificate | $1,425 |
| #6 | Georgia Piedmont Technical College Lithonia, GA | CDL Class B Driver Training | $2,079 |
| #7 | Wallace State Community College Hanceville, AL | All-In-Person Class B | $2,650 |
| #8 | National Standard Trucking School Milton, WA | Class B CDL Training | $3,175 |
| #9 | New Sound CDL School Fife, WA | Class B CDL Training | $4,175 |
| #10 | United Truck Driving School San Diego, CA | Class B CDL Training | $5,500 |
Showing the first 10 of 13 schools. Every school is listed in the cards below and in the CDL school directory.
How We Ordered the Schools
Each school needed an active record in the FMCSA Training Provider Registry showing theory, range, and public-road training at that exact location for Class B, and for passenger training, school-bus training, or both. We then required a school-run or state-listed Class B or bus course with a published price.
Schools registered for both passenger and school-bus training are listed first. Inside each group, the lower published price ranks higher. Prices describe different course lengths and fee rules, so the order is not a quality score and does not predict test results or hiring.
Best CDL Schools for Bus Drivers, School by School
- #1
Fremont Truck & Bus Driving School
24155 Whitesell Street, Hayward, CA 94545
Published Price
$1,800
Course
Class B or Class B-P
For future bus drivers: The school’s name puts buses next to trucks, and its federal record backs that up with passenger and school-bus training. The Class B or Class B-P course is listed at $1,800 including taxes and fees. Before paying, get the clock hours, calendar length, individual road time, and included test attempts written into the enrollment agreement.
Ranked 1st of 13: the federal record shows complete passenger and school-bus training at this location, which places it in the first group, and $1,800 is the 1st lowest published price within that group of 4.
- Before paying, obtain an enrollment agreement that states the clock hours, expected calendar length, individual road time, included test attempts, and applicable refund terms.
- #2
Houston City College
555 Community College Drive, Houston, TX 77013
Published Price
$2,150
Course
Commercial Truck Driver Class B CDL, I.C.
Hours
120 hours
Length
6 weeks
For future bus drivers: The Class B certificate meets Saturdays and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for six weeks, 120 hours in all, at $2,150. That rhythm suits someone who keeps a weekday job while aiming at a transit or school-bus seat. Ask which vehicle you practice in, since passenger and school-bus training are both on the college’s registration.
Ranked 2nd of 13: the federal record shows complete passenger and school-bus training at this location, which places it in the first group, and $2,150 is the 2nd lowest published price within that group of 4.
- #3
Western Pacific Truck School - Sacramento
3407 51st Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95823
Published Price
$5,575
Course
Class B Commercial Driver
Hours
40 hours
For future bus drivers: A compact 40-hour Class B course at $5,575 total, from a Sacramento school registered for both passenger and school-bus training. Short courses leave little room for repetition, so ask how many of those 40 hours are spent driving, and whether a bus-type vehicle is available for practice and for the skills test you intend to take.
Ranked 3rd of 13: the federal record shows complete passenger and school-bus training at this location, which places it in the first group, and $5,575 is the 3rd lowest published price within that group of 4.
- The seven-week hybrid and night course begins with a full daytime week before its 4 p.m. practical blocks start.
- #4
Commercial Driver School - Lakewood
11000 34th Avenue S, Lakewood, WA 98499
Published Price
$5,622
Course
Class B Bus Training
Hours
110 hours
Length
3 weeks
For future bus drivers: Lakewood names the bus track outright: 110 hours over three weeks, covering Class B with passenger and school-bus training. The listed total is $5,622, made up of $4,245 tuition and $1,377 in required fees. Because Washington’s Career Bridge publishes the same course, you can compare the school’s paperwork against a public record.
Ranked 4th of 13: the federal record shows complete passenger and school-bus training at this location, which places it in the first group, and $5,622 is the 4th lowest published price within that group of 4.
- #5
Trenholm State Community College
5420 Troy Highway, Montgomery, AL 36116
Published Price
$1,425
Course
Class B Truck Driving Certificate
Hours
76 hours
Length
4 weeks
For future bus drivers: A 76-hour Class B certificate over four weeks for $1,425, one of the gentler prices in this group. Passenger training is registered in full at the Montgomery campus, which fits a transit-bus goal. School-bus theory is not part of that registration, so if a school district is your target, ask where that theory comes from.
Ranked 5th of 13: the federal record shows complete passenger training at this location, which places it in the second group, and $1,425 is the 1st lowest published price within that group of 9.
- #6
Georgia Piedmont Technical College
6720 Marbut Road, Lithonia, GA 30058
Published Price
$2,079
Course
CDL Class B Driver Training
Hours
40-hour driver-training course
Length
1 week by day or 2 weeks in the evening
For future bus drivers: Forty hours, taught in one week by day or two weeks on Monday through Thursday evenings from 5 to 9 p.m., for $2,079. The evening option helps if you are leaving a job gradually. The Lithonia college is registered for passenger training, so ask whether the course covers the bus type you want on your license.
Ranked 6th of 13: the federal record shows complete passenger training at this location, which places it in the second group, and $2,079 is the 2nd lowest published price within that group of 9.
- #7
Wallace State Community College
801 Main Street NW, Hanceville, AL 35077
Published Price
$2,650
Course
All-In-Person Class B
Hours
120 hours
For future bus drivers: Two Class B routes are priced separately: $2,650 for the 120-hour all-in-person course, with day and night or weekend cohorts, and $1,800 for an 80-hour behind-the-wheel route. The second assumes the classroom side is handled elsewhere. Passenger training is registered in full at Hanceville, so ask how bus practice is built in.
Ranked 7th of 13: the federal record shows complete passenger training at this location, which places it in the second group, and $2,650 is the 3rd lowest published price within that group of 9.
- Current Wallace State pages use 801 Main Street NW, while the active August 2026 TPR row uses 801 Main Street NE. Confirm the training entrance before visiting.
- #8
National Standard Trucking School
7402 Pacific Highway E, Milton, WA 98354
Published Price
$3,175
Course
Class B CDL Training
Hours
80 hours
Length
2 weeks in the Career Bridge record
For future bus drivers: Career Bridge lists Class B at $3,175: $3,000 tuition, $100 in fees, and $75 for books, across 80 hours. The school itself describes a three-week course while Career Bridge shows two, so get the cohort calendar in writing. Passenger training is registered in full at Milton, which a bus job depends on.
Ranked 8th of 13: the federal record shows complete passenger training at this location, which places it in the second group, and $3,175 is the 4th lowest published price within that group of 9.
- The school describes Class B as a 3-week course and promotes evening training. Career Bridge lists 2 weeks and no evening or weekend option. Obtain the current cohort calendar in writing.
- #9
New Sound CDL School
7495 26th Street E, Unit C, Fife, WA 98424
Published Price
$4,175
Course
Class B CDL Training
Length
2 weeks full time
For future bus drivers: Fife offers Class B in two weeks full time, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., for $4,175, with part-time blocks published as well. Career Bridge describes 80 hours yet displays 120 in another field, so confirm the hours in your contract. Passenger training is registered in full, the piece a bus job turns on.
Ranked 9th of 13: the federal record shows complete passenger training at this location, which places it in the second group, and $4,175 is the 5th lowest published price within that group of 9.
- The school and Career Bridge publish different prices and schedule fields. Use the current signed enrollment agreement rather than combining figures from the two sources.
- The Career Bridge Class B page describes an 80-hour course but displays 120 hours in a separate field. Confirm the contracted Class B hours directly.
- #10
United Truck Driving School
2425 Camino Del Rio S, Suite 250, San Diego, CA 92108
Published Price
$5,500
Course
Class B CDL Training
Hours
120 hours
Length
3 weeks
For future bus drivers: Passenger training is part of the title here: a 120-hour Class B course with passenger training over three weeks, $5,500 total, with monthly daytime classes. You do not have to guess whether the bus portion is included. The San Diego school also lists Class A with passenger training at $8,500 if you want both license classes open.
Ranked 10th of 13: the federal record shows complete passenger training at this location, which places it in the second group, and $5,500 is the 6th lowest published price within that group of 9.
- #11
GSF Driving & Truck Training School
5731 McKinley Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90011
Published Price
$5,895
Course
Complete Class B-P
Hours
160 hours
For future bus drivers: The B-P stands for passenger. This 160-hour Class B course is $5,895, and a 240-hour option combining Class A and Class B-P is $7,995 for people who want truck and bus work both available. Ask how the hours divide between classroom, range, and road, and which vehicle the passenger skills test uses.
Ranked 11th of 13: the federal record shows complete passenger training at this location, which places it in the second group, and $5,895 is the 7th lowest published price within that group of 9.
- #12
Academy of Truck Driving
2585 Buna Street, Building 99, Oakland, CA 94607
Published Price
$5,990
Course
Class B CDL Training
Hours
Up to 120 hours
For future bus drivers: The 2026 catalog lists Class B at up to 120 hours for $5,990 total, and the Oakland location is registered for passenger training. The catalog publishes weekday morning and afternoon blocks for Class A, with evening and weekend sessions by arrangement, so ask whether Class B students get the same scheduling flexibility.
Ranked 12th of 13: the federal record shows complete passenger training at this location, which places it in the second group, and $5,990 is the 8th lowest published price within that group of 9.
- #13
America Truck Driving School Riverside
12701 Magnolia Avenue, Riverside, CA 92503
Published Price
$7,995
Course
A/B Truck and Bus
Hours
92 hours
Length
Scheduled over 10 weeks, with up to 6 months to complete
For future bus drivers: The Riverside school sells a combined truck and bus course: 92 hours spread over ten weeks, with up to six months to finish, at $7,995 in its 2025 catalog. Two-hour individual blocks run Monday through Saturday, a flexible setup for people who cannot attend full days. Because the price is from 2025, get the current figure in writing.
Ranked 13th of 13: the federal record shows complete passenger training at this location, which places it in the second group, and $7,995 is the 9th lowest published price within that group of 9.
- Use the 2025 figures as a dated reference and obtain the current price in your enrollment agreement before paying.
What You Need to Drive a Bus
Driving a bus takes a commercial driver’s license (CDL) with the right endorsements. Under 49 CFR 383.91, a single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more is Group B, which most full-size buses are. A smaller vehicle designed for 16 or more passengers, including the driver, is Group C.
Under 49 CFR 383.93, the passenger (P) endorsement requires a knowledge test and a skills test, and so does the school bus (S) endorsement. A commercial learner’s permit can carry P and S endorsements, and your state may add its own requirements.
First-time applicants also need entry-level driver training (ELDT) before the first P or S skills test, from a provider listed on the Training Provider Registry. That is why this comparison starts with federal registration records.
Questions to Ask a School Before Choosing Bus Training
Ask which vehicle you will drive for practice and for the passenger or school-bus skills test. A bus endorsement test has to be taken in a passenger vehicle that fits the vehicle group, so a school without a suitable bus may send you elsewhere for testing. Ask who supplies it and what it costs.
Ask how many of the course hours are classroom, range, and public-road driving, and whether the price already includes the DOT physical, permit fees, and retests. Our guide to the CDL DOT physical explains the medical exam, and the pre-trip inspection guide explains the first part of the skills test.
If you may want truck work later, compare each school’s Class A option too, and read the Class B CDL training guide for what the license covers on its own.
Bus Driver Training Questions
What CDL Do I Need to Drive a Bus?
Do I Need ELDT for the Passenger or School Bus Endorsement?
How Were These Bus Driver Schools Chosen and Ordered?
Does a School on This List Guarantee a Bus Driving Job?
Official Sources and Related Pages
- 49 CFR 383.91, Commercial motor vehicle groups
- 49 CFR 383.93, Endorsements
- 49 CFR 383.117, Requirements for passenger endorsement
- 49 CFR 383.71, Driver application and certification procedures
- 49 CFR 380.603, Entry-level driver training applicability
- FMCSA Training Provider Registry search
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