Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Cerritos College

The small sample size here demands caution, but the numbers tell a concerning story about immediate post-graduation outcomes. With first-year earnings of $18,208—landing in the 10th percentile among California liberal arts programs—graduates start well below what students earn at comparable community colleges in the state. That's nearly $10,000 less than the California median and roughly half what graduates from top-performing programs like National University or Santiago Canyon College achieve.

The 96% earnings jump to $35,748 by year four suggests many graduates eventually find their footing, possibly after transferring to four-year institutions or gaining work experience. The debt load of $9,750 is reasonable and close to state norms, making this less about unmanageable borrowing and more about the challenging first few years after graduation. For a program serving a substantial Pell grant population (35%), these initial low earnings could create real financial hardship for families who can least afford it.

If your child is planning to transfer immediately to a four-year school, this program might work fine as an affordable stepping stone. But if they'll need to work full-time after earning this degree, the data suggests they'll struggle financially in those early years compared to students at other California community colleges offering the same credential.