Business Operations Support and Assistant Services at CET-Santa Maria

CET-Santa Maria graduates earn $23,009 in their first year—about $2,600 below both California's median and the national average for business operations programs. Among California's 149 schools offering this certificate, that places graduates in the 40th percentile, meaning roughly 60% of comparable programs produce better initial earnings. The gap is significant: top programs in the state like Central Coast College report first-year earnings near $34,000, nearly 50% higher.

The positive news is the debt burden. At $5,894, graduates owe roughly half what students typically borrow for these certificates nationally ($9,500). The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.26 means students face about three months of income in debt—manageable by any standard. Earnings also improve to $26,671 by year four, a 16% increase that narrows the gap with state medians. For students who need minimal debt and can accept below-average starting salaries, this works as an entry point to business support roles.

The real question is opportunity cost. With 149 programs across California, families should ask whether accepting 40th-percentile earnings makes sense when stronger alternatives exist nearby. This certificate gets you working quickly without crushing debt, but it's not the most competitive credential in a crowded field. If location flexibility exists, compare carefully against programs posting $27,000+ first-year outcomes.