Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at San Diego City College

San Diego City College's liberal arts associate degree comes with a notable caveat: fewer than 30 graduates were tracked, making these numbers less reliable than you'd want for a major decision. That said, the pattern here isn't encouraging. First-year earnings of $25,639 fall below both California's median ($27,524) and the national average ($27,248) for this degree, landing in just the 40th percentile statewide. Meanwhile, graduates carry $8,933 in debt—more than the state median and in the 71st percentile nationally, meaning most comparable programs leave students with less debt.

The 26% earnings growth to $32,208 by year four is positive, but even then, graduates are earning $3,500 less annually than peers at top-performing California community colleges like Santiago Canyon or Diablo Valley. Given that many community college students avoid debt entirely through fee waivers and grants, taking on nearly $9,000 for below-median outcomes deserves scrutiny.

If your child is set on this path, the small sample size means individual experiences could vary widely. But based on available data, this program underperforms both state and national benchmarks while costing more than typical community college alternatives. Unless there are compelling geographic or personal reasons to attend San Diego City specifically, exploring other California community colleges with stronger liberal arts outcomes would be prudent.