Social Sciences at Ohlone College

The $22,545 first-year earnings from Ohlone's Social Sciences associate program fall roughly $4,000 below California's median for this degree, placing it in the 40th percentile statewide. For context, graduates at top-performing California community colleges like Merced and Sierra are earning $30,000-34,000 in their first year—more than 50% higher. While the sample size here is small (under 30 graduates tracked), the pattern suggests this particular program isn't launching students into strong entry-level positions.

The bright spot is debt: at $5,500, graduates carry significantly less than both the state median ($7,834) and national median ($9,314). This puts the debt-to-earnings ratio at a manageable 0.24, meaning graduates owe roughly three months of their first-year income. Low debt matters, especially when earnings start modest.

For parents, the question is whether $22,545 justifies even two years of forgone earnings and opportunity cost. If your student is exploring social sciences to build foundational skills before transferring to a four-year program, Ohlone keeps debt low while maintaining that pathway. But if this associate degree is intended as a terminal credential leading directly to work, other California community colleges are producing substantially better employment outcomes in the same field. The small sample size means individual circumstances vary widely here—ask the college directly about job placement rates and typical employer connections for this cohort.