Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Diablo Valley College

With just $7,500 in debt, this certificate won't bury anyone—but the $22,823 first-year earnings lag roughly $4,500 behind California's median for similar programs. Among the 111 California schools offering this credential, Diablo Valley College ranks in just the 25th percentile for graduate earnings. Compare that to top-performing programs like East Los Angeles College, where graduates earn nearly $34,000, and the gap becomes harder to ignore. The 0.33 debt-to-earnings ratio looks reasonable on paper, but only because both numbers are low.

For context, this is an undergraduate certificate—a credential typically meant as a stepping stone rather than a terminal degree. The modest debt load suggests students aren't investing much time or money, which makes sense for a general studies program at a community college. However, with fewer than 30 graduates in the dataset, these figures could swing considerably with a different cohort.

If your child is using this as a bridge to transfer or exploring college without major financial commitment, the low debt makes it relatively low-risk. But as a standalone credential for immediate earnings, it's underperforming both state and national peers. Before enrolling, clarify whether this fits into a broader transfer plan or if your child should consider programs at higher-earning community colleges in the same system.