Business Administration, Management and Operations at San Diego City College

San Diego City College's business associate's delivers solid middle-ground performance for California, ranking in the 60th percentile statewide—a meaningful distinction when you consider this puts it ahead of roughly 80 other California programs. While it doesn't match the stronger community colleges like San Diego Mesa or Sacramento City (which earn $40K+), it significantly outperforms the state median of $29,222, particularly by year four when graduates average over $40,000.

The debt picture is a genuine plus: at $10,625, it's well below the national median of $13,980, though slightly above California's typical $7,988. The 0.32 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable, and the 21% earnings growth over four years suggests graduates can build sustainable careers. For parents, the arithmetic is straightforward—this level of debt can typically be paid off within a few years at these income levels.

The major caveat here is the small sample size (under 30 graduates tracked), which means these numbers could shift substantially year to year. Still, for a local business credential that provides decent earning potential relative to modest debt, this represents a reasonable path—particularly for students planning to work while completing their degree or who need a flexible stepping stone to further education.