Location: Palm Desert, CA•In-State Tuition: $1,326•Out-of-State Tuition: $9,586
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$45,724
Est. from CA median (8 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$11,750
Est. from CA median (3 programs)

Analysis

California's mental health services programs show enormous variation in outcomes, and College of the Desert's certificate falls right in the middle. Based on comparable programs across the state, graduates here can expect around $45,700 in first-year earnings—matching the state median and well above the national benchmark of $32,300. However, it's worth noting that some community colleges in the state report significantly stronger outcomes, with top programs producing earnings above $70,000.

The estimated debt load of $11,750 is actually lower than typical for these programs statewide and nationally, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.26. For context, this means debt is roughly a quarter of first-year income—a manageable level for most graduates. With 32% of students receiving Pell grants, this program serves a population for whom keeping debt low matters enormously.

The real uncertainty here is whether College of the Desert performs more like those top-tier California programs or closer to the state average. The wide range of outcomes across the state suggests that program quality, local employment connections, and specific training focus make a substantial difference in this field. Since actual graduate data isn't available for this specific program, families should investigate where recent graduates have landed jobs and how the curriculum compares to higher-earning programs before committing.

Where College of the Desert Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all mental and social health services and allied professions certificate's programs nationally

College of the Desert (estimated ±10%)Other mental and social health services and allied professions programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in California

Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions certificate's programs at peer institutions in California (59 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
College of the DesertPalm Desert$1,326$45,724*—$11,750*—
Coalinga CollegeCoalinga$1,384$71,517*$68,588$11,750*0.16
Lemoore CollegeLemoore$1,384$69,125*—$13,080*0.19
Mt San Antonio CollegeWalnut$1,364$59,278*$51,259$10,000*0.17
Gurnick Academy of Medical ArtsSan Jose—$53,451*—$16,850*0.32
InterCoast Colleges-West CovinaWest Covina—$37,997*$35,063$14,267*0.38
National Median—$32,312*—$14,519*0.45
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with mental and social health services and allied professions graduates

Genetic Counselors

Assess individual or family risk for a variety of inherited conditions, such as genetic disorders and birth defects. Provide information to other healthcare providers or to individuals and families concerned with the risk of inherited conditions. Advise individuals and families to support informed decisionmaking and coping methods for those at risk. May help conduct research related to genetic conditions or genetic counseling.

$98,910/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

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:

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:

Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in social work. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Marriage and Family Therapists

Diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders, whether cognitive, affective, or behavioral, within the context of marriage and family systems. Apply psychotherapeutic and family systems theories and techniques in the delivery of services to individuals, couples, and families for the purpose of treating such diagnosed nervous and mental disorders.

$63,780/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Health Education Specialists

Provide and manage health education programs that help individuals, families, and their communities maximize and maintain healthy lifestyles. Use data to identify community needs prior to planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating programs designed to encourage healthy lifestyles, policies, and environments. May link health systems, health providers, insurers, and patients to address individual and population health needs. May serve as resource to assist individuals, other health professionals, or the community, and may administer fiscal resources for health education programs.

$63,000/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Child, Family, and School Social Workers

Provide social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families and to maximize the family well-being and the academic functioning of children. May assist parents, arrange adoptions, and find foster homes for abandoned or abused children. In schools, they address such problems as teenage pregnancy, misbehavior, and truancy. May also advise teachers.

$61,330/yrJobs growth:

Healthcare Social Workers

Provide individuals, families, and groups with the psychosocial support needed to cope with chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses. Services include advising family caregivers. Provide patients with information and counseling, and make referrals for other services. May also provide case and care management or interventions designed to promote health, prevent disease, and address barriers to access to healthcare.

$61,330/yrJobs growth:

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

Assess and treat individuals with mental, emotional, or substance abuse problems, including abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs. Activities may include individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, case management, client advocacy, prevention, and education.

$61,330/yrJobs growth:

Social Workers, All Other

All social workers not listed separately.

$61,330/yrJobs growth:

Community Health Workers

Promote health within a community by assisting individuals to adopt healthy behaviors. Serve as an advocate for the health needs of individuals by assisting community residents in effectively communicating with healthcare providers or social service agencies. Act as liaison or advocate and implement programs that promote, maintain, and improve individual and overall community health. May deliver health-related preventive services such as blood pressure, glaucoma, and hearing screenings. May collect data to help identify community health needs.

$51,030/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent
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 median of 8 similar programs in CA. Actual outcomes may vary.