Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications at Palomar College

Comparable networking programs across California suggest first-year earnings around $44,735, while this program's estimated debt of $15,832 would be substantially lower than the state median of $32,882. That combination—if accurate for Palomar—would represent solid value: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37 means graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in less than five months of gross income.

The challenge is that both figures are derived from national peer programs rather than Palomar's actual outcomes, so there's uncertainty about whether this school's specific program performs similarly. The low reported Pell grant percentage (17%) might suggest Palomar serves a more financially stable population, which could affect typical borrowing patterns. California's tech market does support entry-level networking roles at these salary levels, particularly in the San Diego region where Palomar is located.

For parents, the key question is whether your student will actually secure work in networking—these credentials only pay off if they lead to IT jobs rather than unrelated retail or service positions. Community colleges sometimes struggle with career services infrastructure compared to for-profit schools like DeVry (which reports similar earnings but likely at much higher cost). If your child has clear connections to local employers or a strong self-starter mentality for job hunting, the estimated numbers suggest reasonable value. Without those advantages, the lack of specific outcome data makes this a bigger leap of faith.