Est. Earnings (1yr)
$41,695
Est. from CA median (4 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$14,947
Est. from national median (42 programs)

Analysis

Based on comparable legal support programs in California, this associate's degree appears to hit a reasonable financial middle ground—estimated first-year earnings around $41,700 against roughly $15,000 in debt. That 0.36 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests manageable repayment, with monthly payments likely consuming around 5-6% of gross income under standard plans. The estimated earnings align with California's median for the field, though they trail programs like MTI College and South Coast College by $3,000-$6,000. What's harder to assess is whether College of the Sequoias provides the networking and placement support that often separates stronger paralegal programs from weaker ones—factors that matter considerably in a credential-heavy field where employer connections drive early opportunities.

The limited graduate sample that necessitated these estimates raises legitimate questions about program scale and employer pipelines in the Central Valley. Legal support roles cluster heavily in California's urban centers, and Visalia's distance from major legal markets may affect both training quality and job placement. The estimated debt sits well below both state and national medians, which matters given that 35% of students here receive Pell grants. For families considering this path, the key unknown is whether this specific program produces graduates who can actually command that $41,700 figure—or whether they'll need to relocate to achieve it. If your child can access stronger programs in metro areas without significantly more debt, that's worth serious consideration.

Where College of the Sequoias Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all legal support services associates's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in California

Legal Support Services associates's programs at peer institutions in California (63 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
College of the SequoiasVisalia$1,394$41,695*—$14,947*—
MTI CollegeSacramento—$47,535*$48,502$13,758*0.29
South Coast CollegeOrange$13,409$44,536*$48,586—*—
Fremont UniversityCerritos—$38,854*$39,533$21,312*0.55
Mt San Antonio CollegeWalnut$1,364$29,569*$34,315$14,353*0.49
National Median—$34,421*—$25,166*0.73
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with legal support services graduates

Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners

Use verbatim methods and equipment to capture, store, retrieve, and transcribe pretrial and trial proceedings or other information. Includes stenocaptioners who operate computerized stenographic captioning equipment to provide captions of live or prerecorded broadcasts for hearing-impaired viewers.

$67,310/yrJobs growth:Postsecondary nondegree award

Paralegals and Legal Assistants

Assist lawyers by investigating facts, preparing legal documents, or researching legal precedent. Conduct research to support a legal proceeding, to formulate a defense, or to initiate legal action.

$61,010/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Interpreters and Translators

Interpret oral or sign language, or translate written text from one language into another.

$59,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants

Perform secretarial duties using legal terminology, procedures, and documents. Prepare legal papers and correspondence, such as summonses, complaints, motions, and subpoenas. May also assist with legal research.

$47,460/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers

Search real estate records, examine titles, or summarize pertinent legal or insurance documents or details for a variety of purposes. May compile lists of mortgages, contracts, and other instruments pertaining to titles by searching public and private records for law firms, real estate agencies, or title insurance companies.

Legal Support Workers, All Other

All legal support workers not listed separately.

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 Sequoias, approximately 35% 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 4 similar programs in CA. Actual outcomes may vary.