Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications at Cabrillo College

Cabrillo's networking certificate sits in an uncomfortable position: national peer programs suggest earnings around $36,900 in the first year, but California's reported outcomes tell a starkly different story—the state median for this credential is just $13,653. That's a massive gap that raises real questions about whether IT certifications deliver the same value in California's expensive labor market, or whether graduates struggle to convert their credentials into decent-paying jobs.

The estimated debt of $14,700 looks manageable against the national benchmark, representing about five months of hypothetical earnings. But that math falls apart quickly if your child's actual outcomes track closer to the California median. At $13,653 in earnings, that same debt becomes more than a full year's salary—a fundamentally different proposition. Even within California, the one program with reported data (Associated Technical College-Los Angeles) shows those lower earnings, suggesting the state benchmark isn't an outlier.

Before committing, you need to understand why California outcomes diverge so dramatically from national figures. It could be that California's community colleges serve students entering lower-wage positions, or that the state's tech market demands bachelor's degrees for better-paying roles. Either way, the wide range between best-case and likely-case scenarios means this certificate carries real financial risk without clearer evidence of what Cabrillo's own graduates actually earn.