Legal Support Services at Charles A Jones Career and Education Center
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
caj.scusd.eduAnalysis
A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48 suggests this legal support certificate could be manageable financially, with estimated first-year earnings of $40,429 against roughly $19,500 in debt. That's half a year's salary—a threshold that typically allows graduates to handle loan payments without severe strain. While these figures come from national peer programs rather than Charles A Jones's specific outcomes, they align with what similar legal support certificates produce nationwide, where the median graduate earns almost identical amounts.
California's legal market, particularly in Sacramento, offers solid opportunities for paralegals and legal assistants, with county government, law firms, and corporate legal departments all hiring. The relatively modest debt estimate matters here: legal support roles don't typically command premium salaries, so avoiding excessive borrowing is crucial. Programs that produce similar earnings with significantly higher debt create real financial stress; this one appears to stay on the right side of that line.
The practical question is whether this certificate actually leads to employment in Sacramento's legal field. With 64 California schools offering legal support training, competition exists, but Charles A Jones's focus on career education could mean stronger employer connections than a traditional college. Before enrolling, verify the school's job placement track record specifically—estimated earnings from peer programs tell you what's possible, not what this particular certificate delivers.
Where Charles A Jones Career and Education Center Stands
Earnings vs. debt across all legal support services certificate's programs nationally
Compare to Similar Programs Nationally
Legal Support Services certificate's programs at top institutions nationally
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| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr)* | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt* | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | $40,429* | — | $19,500* | — | |
| $4,920 | $50,681* | — | $17,629* | 0.35 | |
| $51,716 | $48,819* | — | $35,000* | 0.72 | |
| $5,050 | $48,599* | $52,694 | —* | — | |
| $4,669 | $45,880* | — | $23,471* | 0.51 | |
| $4,494 | $45,094* | — | —* | — | |
| National Median | — | $40,429* | — | $20,834* | 0.52 |
Career Paths
Occupations commonly associated with legal support services graduates
Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Interpreters and Translators
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers
Legal Support Workers, All Other
About This Data
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)
Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Charles A Jones Career and Education Center, approximately 34% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.
Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.
Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.
Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 41 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.