Business Administration, Management and Operations at Cerritos College

Cerritos College graduates from this business certificate program earn $56,738 in their first year—beating 95% of similar programs nationally and coming in above California's state median of $52,633. The $8,021 in typical debt is remarkably low, less than half the national average and well below what most California programs charge. That translates to just three months of first-year earnings to pay off debt, making this an unusually accessible pathway for the 35% of students here on Pell grants.

The concerning pattern is what happens next: earnings drop to $49,556 by year four, a 13% decline that's hard to explain and suggests this certificate may open doors to entry-level positions without clear advancement. However, even with that drop, graduates still out-earn the national median by $10,000. Within California, this program sits at the 60th percentile—respectable but not exceptional when compared to the state's 121 other business certificate options.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) is the critical asterisk here. These numbers could shift dramatically with more data, so this shouldn't be your only data point. For families seeking a low-cost business credential with strong immediate outcomes, Cerritos delivers—just recognize the earnings trajectory looks flat to declining rather than building toward management-level pay.