Business/Commerce at Cabrillo College

California's business associate programs show earnings spanning from $26,000 to over $43,000, making program choice critical. For Cabrillo, peer programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $36,600—solidly in the middle of that range—with estimated debt of $11,000. That 0.30 debt-to-earnings ratio translates to roughly four months of gross income, a manageable starting point for a two-year credential.

The practical question is whether this positions graduates competitively in California's market. The estimated earnings slightly exceed the state median for business associate programs ($35,000), though they fall well short of what DeVry grads report earning. Still, with estimated debt approximately $2,500 below the state median and $2,400 below the national benchmark, Cabrillo appears positioned as a lower-cost entry point into business careers. For students planning to transfer to a four-year program, keeping debt this low during the associate phase makes financial sense.

Given that these are estimates rather than tracked outcomes for Cabrillo specifically, verify whether the college publishes transfer rates and employment placement data. The value here likely depends heavily on whether students use this as a stepping stone to a bachelor's degree or enter the workforce directly—two very different paths with different payoff timelines.