Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Los Medanos College

Los Medanos College's general studies certificate puts graduates $2,600 above the national median for this credential—a meaningful bump that places it in the 60th percentile among California programs. For a community college certificate that typically requires far less time and money than a bachelor's degree, these outcomes suggest a viable path for students seeking quick entry to the workforce or a foundation for further study.

The debt picture looks reasonable at $9,500, though it's worth noting this sits slightly above California's median of $7,456 for similar programs. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.32, graduates would need about four months of gross income to cover their loans—manageable for most borrowers. The earnings advantage over typical certificate holders helps offset this higher borrowing.

The main asterisk here is sample size: fewer than 30 graduates were tracked, so these numbers could shift considerably with a larger group. Still, the fact that this program outperforms most peers suggests Los Medanos is doing something right. For a student considering a quick certificate while living at home or working part-time, this represents a low-risk credential that appears to deliver slightly better-than-average results for this type of program.