Business Administration, Management and Operations at College of the Sequoias

The $14,205 first-year earnings figure here should raise immediate concerns—it's barely above minimum wage for full-time work and places this program in the bottom 10% both statewide and nationally. To put that in perspective, the typical California associate's in business administration yields $29,222, more than double what graduates here are earning. Meanwhile, comparable California community colleges like San Bernardino Valley College and San Diego Mesa College are producing graduates earning $45,000 or more in their first year.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means we should be cautious about drawing firm conclusions, but even accounting for statistical noise, these numbers suggest graduates aren't landing the kind of administrative or management positions this degree typically leads to. The relatively low debt of $5,500 is the program's saving grace, but that merely means students aren't taking on crushing debt for a credential that isn't opening doors to better-paying work.

For families considering this program, the question isn't just whether the debt is manageable—it's whether completing this degree results in meaningful income gains at all. If your child can access one of California's stronger community college business programs, even if it requires relocating, the earnings data suggests that investment would pay dividends. At minimum, investigate what's happening with job placement here before enrolling.