CDL School Cost guide
How Much Does CDL School Cost in Texas? (2026 Data)
The median published tuition for a CDL training program in Texas is $4,995, based on 143 Texas programs that list a price on the state’s federally reported training-provider list (U.S. Department of Labor, retrieved November 1, 2026). Half of those programs cost between $4,000 and $6,502. That’s a little above the national median of $4,700 across 2,218 priced programs, and it usually doesn’t include test fees, a DOT physical, or housing.
Key facts: CDL school in Texas (data retrieved Nov 1, 2026)
- Median tuition: $4,995 (143 priced programs; DOL Eligible Training Provider data)
- Middle 50% of programs: $4,000 – $6,502
- National median for comparison: $4,700 (2,218 programs, all states; values under $100 or $50,000+ excluded as data errors)
- Training locations registered with FMCSA in Texas: 1,810. Only 447 accept the general public (the rest are private, mostly company in-house programs)
- Public, in-person Texas locations offering Class A public-road training: 320
- Texas DPS lists 21 CDL skills-test locations on its DL-95 form (rev. 11-2024)
- Median share of program leavers employed in the 2nd quarter after exit: 66% (112 programs with reported results)
What does CDL school cost in Texas, program by program?
Most Texas CDL programs fall in the $4,000-$7,000 range, but the spread is wide. Short add-on courses can cost a few hundred dollars, while a few full programs top $10,000.
Table 1. Texas CDL program tuition, by price band
| Tuition band | Programs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under $3,000 | 15 | 10% |
| $3,000 – $4,999 | 65 | 45% |
| $5,000 – $6,999 | 32 | 22% |
| $7,000 and up | 31 | 22% |
| Total priced programs | 143 |
Source: U.S. DOL Eligible Training Provider (ETP) program data via TrainingProviderResults.gov, CIP code 49.0205 (Truck and Bus Driver/Commercial Vehicle Operator), Texas, retrieved 2026-11-01. One listing with a placeholder price of $99,999 is excluded. Shares are rounded.
The cheapest entries aren’t always full Class A programs. For example, Lamar Institute of Technology in Beaumont lists a $500 “CDL Restriction Removal” course (16 hours), which is for drivers who already hold a CDL and want to remove a restriction, such as the automatic-transmission “E” restriction. Always check the program name before comparing prices.
How do prices differ across Texas cities?
Prices vary more within a city than between cities. San Antonio, Houston and McAllen have the most listed programs.
Table 2. Tuition by city (cities with 5+ priced programs)
| City | Priced programs | Lowest | Median | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Antonio | 15 | $3,500 | $5,230 | $10,438 |
| Houston | 13 | $4,995 | $4,995 | $6,400 |
| El Paso | 7 | $3,620 | $7,300 | $16,000 |
| Dallas | 7 | $5,000 | $7,695 | $10,200 |
| McAllen | 6 | $2,500 | $3,661 | $4,500 |
| DeSoto | 6 | $1,500 | $7,588 | $10,000 |
| Beaumont | 5 | $500 | $2,000 | $9,725 |
| Grand Prairie | 5 | $2,249 | $4,290 | $17,695 |
Source: DOL ETP data, Texas, retrieved 2026-11-01. “City” is the city the program reports. Small counts: one or two programs can move a median.
What this means for you: in Houston, most listed programs cluster at exactly $4,995, so you’re comparing schedules and results more than price. In Dallas and El Paso, the spread is several thousand dollars, so shopping around matters more.
Are community colleges cheaper than private CDL schools in Texas?
Slightly, at the median. Programs run by colleges that grant associate degrees list a median of $4,500, compared with $5,213 for private for-profit schools and $5,212 for private non-profits.
Table 3. Texas tuition by provider type
| Provider type (as reported) | Priced programs | Median tuition |
|---|---|---|
| Higher Ed: Associate’s Degree (community/technical colleges) | 60 | $4,500 |
| Private For-Profit | 34 | $5,213 |
| Private Non-Profit | 27 | $5,212 |
| Public (non-college) | 12 | $4,995 |
| Other | 8 | $5,193 |
Source: DOL ETP data, Texas, retrieved 2026-11-01. Two provider types with one program each are not shown.
Pros and cons: community college vs private CDL school
| Community/technical college | Private CDL school | |
|---|---|---|
| Pros | Lower median price; often eligible for state aid; may bundle college credit | More start dates; often shorter, full-time programs; may offer evening/weekend classes |
| Cons | Fewer start dates; semester schedules; may have waitlists | Wider price range; quality varies more; some push financing |
What do Texas programs actually include for the money?
Check three things before you compare quotes:
- Which license class. Class A (tractor-trailer) and Class B (straight truck, bus) programs are priced differently. 320 of the 389 public, in-person Texas locations in the FMCSA registry list Class A public-road training, and 317 list Class B public-road training (FMCSA Training Provider Registry location file, as of 10/31/2026).
- All three parts of federal Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT). These are theory, range (yard) driving and public-road driving. Some locations are registered for theory only: 13 public, in-person Texas locations list Class A theory but no public-road training.
- What’s extra. Only 57 Texas programs list a separate supplies cost; their median is $350. Ask about permit fees, the DOT physical, drug testing, truck rental for the road test, and retest fees.
What will I pay in total? A worked example
This is a sample budget for a full-time Class A student in Houston. Lines marked “ask” vary by school and aren’t in our data.
| Item | Amount | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $4,995 | Houston median, Table 2 |
| Supplies/books | $350 | Texas median of programs listing supplies |
| Permit, license and test fees | ask | Texas DPS charges state fees; check dps.texas.gov |
| DOT physical | ask | priced by the clinic |
| Truck for the skills test | often included; ask | |
| Known subtotal | $5,345 |
Alternative: a lower-cost program in the Rio Grande Valley. McAllen’s median of $3,661 plus $350 in supplies gives a known subtotal of $4,011, about $1,300 less than the Houston example, before fees. If you’d need to travel and rent a room for the length of the program, add that cost before you decide the cheaper school really is cheaper.
Do Texas CDL graduates get hired?
Most do, according to the outcomes that schools report to the state for federally funded (WIOA) students. Across 112 Texas programs with reported results, the median share of program leavers employed in the second quarter after exit is 66%. Among programs that report a fourth-quarter figure, the median is 76%.
Table 4. Selected Texas programs: price and reported outcomes
| Provider (program) | City | Tuition | Employed Q2 after exit | Median earnings, Q2 after exit* | Leavers counted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crane Wise Certifications (5-day mobile/overhead crane) | Lubbock | $3,675 | 93% | $24,152 | 151 |
| Frank Phillips College (Truck & Bus Driver) | Borger | $4,097 | 74% | $12,663 | 56 |
| A+ CDL Academy (Truck Commercial Vehicle Operation) | San Benito | $4,500 | 59% | $9,489 | 145 |
| 160 Driving Academy (Class A CDL Program) | Houston | $4,995 | 57% | $10,607 | 931 |
| Sage Truck Driving School Texas (Class A program) | San Antonio | $5,195 | 54% | $10,403 | 563 |
| Panola College (Professional Truck Driving) | Carthage | $7,450 | 67% | $11,921 | 100 |
| Alamo Community College District (CDL Professional Truck Driver) | San Antonio | $10,130 | 52% | $10,061 | 409 |
*Earnings are for one calendar quarter (three months), not a year. Source: DOL ETP program data, Texas, retrieved 2026-11-01. Outcomes cover WIOA-funded participants only, and the reporting period lags by a year or more. The Lubbock entry is a crane-operator course listed under the same federal program code; it’s shown for contrast, not as a CDL program.
A higher price didn’t mean better reported outcomes in this sample. The $10,130 program reports a lower Q2 employment rate than the $4,097 program. Use outcomes as one signal among several, and ask each school for its own placement numbers and how they calculate them.
Where do I take the CDL skills test in Texas?
Texas DPS lists 21 CDL skills-test locations on its form DL-95 (rev. 11-2024). These include “Mega Centers” in Carrollton, Corpus Christi, Dallas South, Edinburg, Fort Worth, Houston (Gessner, North and Southeast), Leon Valley (Class B only) and Midland. Tests are by appointment only, and DPS says you’ll be directed to a site after you complete your CDL application. Some sites have limits, such as Junction (Wednesday only). → See our Texas CDL test sites page.
How do I check that a Texas school is registered?
Since February 7, 2022, you must complete entry-level training with a provider listed on FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry before you can take the Class A or B skills test. Search the registry at tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov, or use the “registry status” box on every school page in our Texas directory. Of Texas’s 1,810 registered locations, 1,363 are private-enrollment only. These are typically companies training their own hires, so most of the registry isn’t open to you as a walk-in student.
Step by step: choosing a Texas CDL school
- Decide on Class A or Class B (see Class A vs Class B).
- Shortlist 3-5 public-enrollment schools within commuting distance in our Texas directory.
- Confirm each one is registered for theory, range and public-road training for your class.
- Get a written quote showing tuition, fees, and what’s not included.
- Compare reported outcomes (Table 4 style) and ask for the school’s own figures.
- Ask your local Workforce Solutions office whether you qualify for WIOA funding. Every program in this data appears on Texas’s eligible-training list (see Funding).
- Book your DOT physical and permit early. Then pick a DPS test site from DL-95.
Common mistakes
- Comparing a restriction-removal or theory-only course price with a full Class A program.
- Assuming a registered provider takes public students. Most Texas registry locations don’t.
- Taking the road test in an automatic and getting an E restriction without checking what jobs you want.
- Ignoring travel and housing when choosing a cheaper school far away.
- Treating a “free” company program as free without reading the repayment terms (see Is free CDL training really free?).
- Reading quarterly earnings as annual pay.
FAQ
How much is CDL school in Texas? The median published tuition is $4,995 across 143 priced programs (DOL data, retrieved Nov 1, 2026). Half cost $4,000-$6,502.
What’s the cheapest CDL school in Texas? Listed full programs start around $1,200-$2,500 (for example, McAllen has programs from $2,500). Courses under $1,000 are usually add-ons, such as restriction removal.
Is CDL school cheaper at a Texas community college? Slightly, at the median: $4,500 vs about $5,200 at private schools.
How much does CDL school cost in Houston? Most Houston programs list $4,995. The 13 priced programs range from $4,995 to $6,400.
How much is CDL school in San Antonio or Dallas? The median is $5,230 in San Antonio (15 programs) and $7,695 in Dallas (7 programs).
Does tuition include the CDL test? Not always. Ask whether it includes the truck for the test, retests and state fees.
Can WIOA pay for CDL school in Texas? It can if you’re eligible. The programs in this data are on Texas’s WIOA eligible-training list. Ask your local Workforce Solutions board.
How many CDL test sites does Texas have? DPS form DL-95 lists 21 CDL skills-test locations.
Do I have to use an FMCSA-registered school? Yes. Since February 2022, Class A and B applicants must complete entry-level training with a registered provider.
Do Texas CDL graduates find jobs? For WIOA-funded students, the median program reports 66% employed in the second quarter after exit.
Sources & methodology
- U.S. Department of Labor, Eligible Training Provider program data (TrainingProviderResults.gov), CIP 49.0205, Texas. Retrieved 2026-11-01. 145 Texas programs. 143 priced programs used after excluding one $99,999 placeholder and one blank. Outcome values marked suppressed are excluded. https://www.trainingproviderresults.gov/
- FMCSA Training Provider Registry, “ELDT Training Locations Registered with FMCSA,” as of 10/31/2026. https://tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov/
- Texas DPS, “Texas Driver License Office CDL Skills Testing Locations,” DL-95 (rev. 11-2024). https://www.dps.texas.gov/Internetforms/getForm.ashx?id=DL-95.pdf
Last updated: November 1, 2026
About cdlschoolcost.com. Published by NH Media LLC. We compile public federal and state data on CDL training providers so you can compare cost, registration and results in one place. Spot an error? Tell us.
Published Nov 1, 2026. Last updated November 1, 2026.