Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at Grossmont College

Starting salary estimates based on three California programs in this field suggest around $40,000 annually—essentially matching the state median but trailing the national benchmark by about $1,800. With estimated debt of $17,500, this puts the debt-to-earnings ratio at a manageable 0.44, meaning graduates would owe roughly five months of their first-year salary. That's a reasonable starting point for an associate degree in IT administration, though families should recognize these figures represent what similar programs typically produce rather than tracked outcomes from Grossmont's specific graduates.

The concerning element here isn't the numbers themselves but the uncertainty they represent. When the Department of Education suppresses data due to small graduate samples, it often signals that relatively few students are completing this particular program—which could mean limited job placement networks, minimal employer relationships, or simply a nascent program still building its track record. California's IT job market is competitive and credential-sensitive, and community college IT programs sometimes struggle to differentiate themselves from four-year degrees or specialized certifications that employers prefer.

If your child is set on this path, verify what Grossmont can tell you directly: actual graduate counts, specific employer partnerships, and whether completers typically transfer to four-year programs or enter the workforce. An associate degree in IT administration works best as either a stepping stone to a bachelor's or as technical training with clear job placement support—you need to know which model applies here.