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

Chaffey College's undergraduate certificate in liberal arts produces graduates earning $23,532 one year out—nearly $4,000 below California's median for this credential and $3,500 below the national benchmark. Among California's 111 programs offering this certificate, Chaffey lands at the 40th percentile, meaning six in ten comparable programs deliver better outcomes. The state's strongest performers, like East Los Angeles College at $33,628, demonstrate earnings potential 40% higher than what Chaffey graduates typically see.

The relatively modest debt load of $6,625 keeps this from being a financial disaster—it's below both state and national medians, and the 0.28 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates theoretically owe less than four months of their first-year salary. However, earning under $24,000 annually leaves little breathing room for any debt repayment, even amounts that look small on paper. For context, this income barely exceeds California's minimum wage earnings for full-time work.

This certificate makes sense primarily as a stepping stone toward further education rather than a standalone credential. If your student plans to transfer to a four-year program and just needs the certificate as an interim milestone, the low debt is manageable. But if they're counting on this credential alone to launch a career, the below-average earnings should prompt serious questions about whether staying enrolled is the right path.