Est. Earnings (1yr)
$41,695
Est. from CA median (4 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$14,947
Est. from national median (42 programs)

Analysis

California's legal support programs show considerable variation in outcomes, and while Butte College's specific graduate data isn't available, comparable programs in the state suggest first-year earnings around $42,000—matching the state median and notably above the national benchmark of $34,000. This positions legal support services graduates in a stronger market than many other states. The estimated debt load of roughly $15,000 appears manageable with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36, particularly compared to the national median debt of $25,000 for similar programs.

The practical reality is that your child would likely enter a field where California graduates generally fare well, though there's uncertainty about how Butte specifically stacks up against programs like MTI College (where graduates earn $48,000) versus Mt San Antonio College (where they earn $30,000). For context, one-third of Butte students receive Pell grants, indicating the program serves a population for whom moderate debt and mid-40s earnings could represent meaningful economic mobility. The key question is whether Butte's curriculum and placement connections match those of higher-earning programs in the state, information you'll need to investigate directly with their career services office and recent graduates.

Where Butte College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all legal support services associates's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in California

Legal Support Services associates's programs at peer institutions in California (63 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Butte CollegeOroville$1,336$41,695*$14,947*
MTI CollegeSacramento$47,535*$48,502$13,758*0.29
South Coast CollegeOrange$13,409$44,536*$48,586*
Fremont UniversityCerritos$38,854*$39,533$21,312*0.55
Mt San Antonio CollegeWalnut$1,364$29,569*$34,315$14,353*0.49
National Median$34,421*$25,166*0.73
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with legal support services graduates

Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners

Use verbatim methods and equipment to capture, store, retrieve, and transcribe pretrial and trial proceedings or other information. Includes stenocaptioners who operate computerized stenographic captioning equipment to provide captions of live or prerecorded broadcasts for hearing-impaired viewers.

$67,310/yrJobs growth:Postsecondary nondegree award

Paralegals and Legal Assistants

Assist lawyers by investigating facts, preparing legal documents, or researching legal precedent. Conduct research to support a legal proceeding, to formulate a defense, or to initiate legal action.

$61,010/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Interpreters and Translators

Interpret oral or sign language, or translate written text from one language into another.

$59,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants

Perform secretarial duties using legal terminology, procedures, and documents. Prepare legal papers and correspondence, such as summonses, complaints, motions, and subpoenas. May also assist with legal research.

$47,460/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers

Search real estate records, examine titles, or summarize pertinent legal or insurance documents or details for a variety of purposes. May compile lists of mortgages, contracts, and other instruments pertaining to titles by searching public and private records for law firms, real estate agencies, or title insurance companies.

Legal Support Workers, All Other

All legal support workers not listed separately.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Butte College, approximately 34% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 4 similar programs in CA. Actual outcomes may vary.