Business/Commerce (Associate's Degree) at College of the Desert

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$36,591

Est. from national median (124 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$11,000

Est. from national median (103 programs)

Analysis

A debt load of $11,000 for an associate's degree is manageable territory—you're looking at monthly payments under $125 on a standard repayment plan. Peer business programs at community colleges nationally suggest first-year earnings around $36,600, which would put the debt burden at roughly three months of gross pay. That's a reasonable starting point, especially when California's strong minimum wage laws ($16/hour statewide) provide a decent floor even if career outcomes take time to materialize.

The real question is trajectory. Business associate's degrees serve two distinct paths: immediate workforce entry in administrative or entry-level management roles, or transfer preparation for a bachelor's program. Similar California programs show wide variation—some graduates earn $43,000+ while others start in the mid-$20,000s—suggesting outcomes depend heavily on which path students follow and local employment conditions. Palm Desert's economy, anchored by hospitality and retail, may offer different opportunities than metro areas with more diverse corporate employers.

For a student planning to complete a bachelor's degree, this becomes a cost-effective first step with relatively low debt accumulation. For those entering the workforce directly, the estimated earnings suggest steady but modest returns. The key is having clarity about which path your child intends to pursue before enrollment, since that choice fundamentally shapes what "success" looks like for this credential.

Where College of the Desert Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all business/commerce associates's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in California

Business/Commerce associates's programs at peer institutions in California (78 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
College of the DesertPalm Desert	$1,326	$36,591*	—	$11,000*	—
DeVry University-CaliforniaOntario	$17,488	$43,716*	—	$30,444*	0.70
Victor Valley CollegeVictorville	$1,425	$26,272*	$36,492	$5,250*	0.20
National Median	—	$36,591*	—	$13,437*	0.37

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with business/commerce graduates

Sales Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.

$138,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Industrial Production Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the work activities and resources necessary for manufacturing products in accordance with cost, quality, and quantity specifications.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Quality Control Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate quality assurance programs. Formulate quality control policies and control quality of laboratory and production efforts.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Geothermal Production Managers

Manage operations at geothermal power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor geothermal plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biofuels Production Managers

Manage biofuels production and plant operations. Collect and process information on plant production and performance, diagnose problems, and design corrective procedures.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biomass Power Plant Managers

Manage operations at biomass power generation facilities. Direct work activities at plant, including supervision of operations and maintenance staff.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Hydroelectric Production Managers

Manage operations at hydroelectric power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor hydroelectric plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Construction Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate, usually through subordinate supervisory personnel, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems. Participate in the conceptual development of a construction project and oversee its organization, scheduling, budgeting, and implementation. Includes managers in specialized construction fields, such as carpentry or plumbing.

$106,980/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Administrative Services Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate one or more administrative services of an organization, such as records and information management, mail distribution, and other office support services.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Facilities Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate operations and functionalities of facilities and buildings. May include surrounding grounds or multiple facilities of an organization's campus.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Security Managers

Direct an organization's security functions, including physical security and safety of employees and facilities.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

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 College of the Desert, approximately 32% 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 124 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.