Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at Las Positas College

Las Positas College's IT certificate runs about $12,000 in estimated debt—fairly typical for this type of program—while similar California certificates suggest first-year earnings around $45,575. That's a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.26, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans with just over three months of pre-tax income. For a certificate program, that's a manageable debt load.

The earnings figure sits right at California's median for IT certificates and slightly above the national average of $42,271. Peer programs at schools like Unitek College and MTI College show comparable outcomes, suggesting this is a competitive middle-of-the-pack program rather than an outlier. The catch is that all these numbers are estimates based on similar programs across California, not Las Positas's actual graduate outcomes. The Department of Education suppresses data when graduate samples are too small to publish reliably.

For parents trying to gauge value, the estimated numbers point to a low-risk investment if the certificate serves as either a quick workforce entry or a credential stack toward an associate's or bachelor's degree. The debt is low enough that even if actual earnings fall short of estimates, you're not looking at a crushing financial burden. But verify what this certificate actually qualifies your child to do in the local job market—a credential's value depends heavily on whether employers recognize it as sufficient for entry-level positions or if it's just a stepping stone.