Ground Transportation at CET-El Centro

CET-El Centro's Ground Transportation program sits right at California's median for earnings, but trails the national average by about $7,000. That gap matters: while graduates here start at $34,665 and grow to $38,368 by year four, typical programs nationwide produce first-year earnings over $41,000. The 24th percentile national ranking tells you this isn't where most ground transportation graduates end up earning-wise.

The debt picture offers some relief. At $6,650, it's manageable—less than 20% of first-year earnings—and graduates can realistically pay this down within two years if they're disciplined. The modest debt keeps this program from being a bad deal, even with below-average earnings. Notably, the 11% earnings growth suggests steady career progression rather than a dead-end certificate.

For families in the Imperial Valley area where job options may be limited, this program provides accessible entry into transportation careers without crushing debt. But if your child can access programs at schools like Advanced Career Institute (where earnings start $4,000 higher) or attend programs in higher-wage regions, those alternatives deserve serious consideration. This works as a local option with low financial risk, not as a destination program worth relocating for.