Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Mt San Jacinto Community College District

Mt San Jacinto's general studies associate program sits solidly in California's middle tier, ranking at the 40th percentile among 133 similar programs statewide. With first-year earnings of $23,923, graduates earn about $3,600 less than the state median, though they also carry significantly less debt—$6,600 versus the state median of $8,750. This creates a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.28, meaning graduates owe less than three months of salary.

The earnings trajectory shows encouraging momentum. By year four, median earnings reach $28,956, representing 21% growth and nearly matching the state median. This suggests graduates are gaining traction in the job market, even if they start behind peers from stronger programs like Santiago Canyon or Diablo Valley College, where first-year earnings top $35,000.

For families seeking an affordable path to an associate degree—particularly the 33% of students receiving Pell grants—this represents reasonable value. The low debt burden matters more than the modest starting salary, especially given the upward earnings trend. However, parents should understand their student will likely need to supplement this degree with additional training or work experience to reach competitive earning levels in California's job market.