Psychology (Associate's Degree) at Coalinga College

Median Earnings (1yr)

$16,139

5th percentile

10th percentile in California

Median Debt

$8,000

29% below national median

Analysis

The $16,139 first-year earnings from Coalinga College's psychology associate program fall dramatically short—ranking in just the 10th percentile among California's 113 similar programs. That's $9,200 below the state median and roughly $8,300 less than nearby Fresno City College graduates earn. When other Central Valley community colleges like Merced and Modesto report earnings above $25,000, this outcome signals something isn't connecting between the program and local job markets.

The debt load itself is reasonable at $8,000, but context matters: earning barely above minimum wage full-time makes even modest debt feel heavy. The 0.50 debt-to-earnings ratio looks better on paper than it does in practice when the denominator is this low. For comparison, graduates from Merced College's psychology program earn more than twice as much in their first year while carrying similar debt.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift with more data, but they can't shift enough to fundamentally change the picture. If your student is certain about psychology, other California community colleges demonstrate much stronger employment outcomes. This program needs to show it can connect graduates to viable career paths before it represents a sound investment.

Where Coalinga College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all psychology associates's programs nationally

Earnings Distribution

How Coalinga College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in California

Psychology associates's programs at peer institutions in California (113 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Coalinga CollegeCoalinga	$1,384	$16,139	—	$8,000	0.50
Merced CollegeMerced	$1,194	$34,441	$29,978	$6,849	0.20
Fresno City CollegeFresno	$1,334	$27,421	$30,921	$7,802	0.28
San Diego Mesa CollegeSan Diego	$1,150	$26,229	$29,319	$7,597	0.29
Modesto Junior CollegeModesto	$1,270	$25,832	$32,227	$6,757	0.26
College of the DesertPalm Desert	$1,326	$25,792	$28,739	$5,500	0.21
National Median	—	$26,232	—	$11,198	0.43

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with psychology graduates

Industrial-Organizational Psychologists

Apply principles of psychology to human resources, administration, management, sales, and marketing problems. Activities may include policy planning; employee testing and selection, training, and development; and organizational development and analysis. May work with management to organize the work setting to improve worker productivity.

$94,310/yrJobs growth:

Clinical and Counseling Psychologists

Assess, diagnose, and treat mental and emotional disorders of individuals through observation, interview, and psychological tests. Help individuals with distress or maladjustment understand their problems through their knowledge of case history, interviews with patients, and theory. Provide individual or group counseling services to assist individuals in achieving more effective personal, social, educational, and vocational development and adjustment. May design behavior modification programs and consult with medical personnel regarding the best treatment for patients.

$94,310/yrJobs growth:

Psychologists, All Other

All psychologists not listed separately.

$94,310/yrJobs growth:

Neuropsychologists

Apply theories and principles of neuropsychology to evaluate and diagnose disorders of higher cerebral functioning, often in research and medical settings. Study the human brain and the effect of physiological states on human cognition and behavior. May formulate and administer programs of treatment.

$94,310/yrJobs growth:

Clinical Neuropsychologists

Assess and diagnose patients with neurobehavioral problems related to acquired or developmental disorders of the nervous system, such as neurodegenerative disorders, traumatic brain injury, seizure disorders, and learning disabilities. Recommend treatment after diagnosis, such as therapy, medication, or surgery. Assist with evaluation before and after neurosurgical procedures, such as deep brain stimulation.

$94,310/yrJobs growth:

Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in psychology, such as child, clinical, and developmental psychology, and psychological counseling. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Managers, All Other

All managers not listed separately.

Loss Prevention Managers

Plan and direct policies, procedures, or systems to prevent the loss of assets. Determine risk exposure or potential liability, and develop risk control measures.

Social Science Research Assistants

Assist social scientists in laboratory, survey, and other social science research. May help prepare findings for publication and assist in laboratory analysis, quality control, or data management.

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 Coalinga College, approximately 22% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 21 graduates with reported earnings and 27 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.