Business/Commerce (Associate's Degree) at San Diego Mesa College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$36,591

Est. from national median (124 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$11,000

Est. from national median (103 programs)

Analysis

A community college business associate's degree appears to position graduates right at the national earnings median—peer programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $36,600—while carrying estimated debt of $11,000. That debt level sits below the national median for this credential, translating to a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.30. For context, similar California programs show a wide earnings range, from $26,000 to over $43,000, suggesting that outcomes depend significantly on how students leverage the degree.

San Diego Mesa's low Pell grant percentage (16%) is unusual for a California community college and may indicate a different student profile than typical two-year institutions. The estimated figures here, derived from comparable business programs nationally, can't tell us whether Mesa's specific location in San Diego's economy or its particular industry connections produce better or worse outcomes than the typical associate's program. California's state median for business associate's degrees actually runs slightly lower at $35,000, with less debt at $8,500.

The practical math works: paying off $11,000 on a $36,600 salary is feasible, assuming graduates enter the workforce immediately. However, many associate's degree holders use this credential as a stepping stone to a bachelor's, which would add more debt and delay earnings. If your child plans to stop at the associate's level and enter the workforce, these estimated figures suggest a reasonable investment. If transfer is the goal, factor in the additional costs of completing a four-year degree.

Where San Diego Mesa College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all business/commerce associates's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in California

Business/Commerce associates's programs at peer institutions in California (78 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
San Diego Mesa CollegeSan Diego	$1,150	$36,591*	—	$11,000*	—
DeVry University-CaliforniaOntario	$17,488	$43,716*	—	$30,444*	0.70
Victor Valley CollegeVictorville	$1,425	$26,272*	$36,492	$5,250*	0.20
National Median	—	$36,591*	—	$13,437*	0.37

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with business/commerce graduates

Sales Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.

$138,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Industrial Production Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the work activities and resources necessary for manufacturing products in accordance with cost, quality, and quantity specifications.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Quality Control Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate quality assurance programs. Formulate quality control policies and control quality of laboratory and production efforts.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Geothermal Production Managers

Manage operations at geothermal power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor geothermal plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biofuels Production Managers

Manage biofuels production and plant operations. Collect and process information on plant production and performance, diagnose problems, and design corrective procedures.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biomass Power Plant Managers

Manage operations at biomass power generation facilities. Direct work activities at plant, including supervision of operations and maintenance staff.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Hydroelectric Production Managers

Manage operations at hydroelectric power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor hydroelectric plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Construction Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate, usually through subordinate supervisory personnel, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems. Participate in the conceptual development of a construction project and oversee its organization, scheduling, budgeting, and implementation. Includes managers in specialized construction fields, such as carpentry or plumbing.

$106,980/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Administrative Services Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate one or more administrative services of an organization, such as records and information management, mail distribution, and other office support services.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Facilities Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate operations and functionalities of facilities and buildings. May include surrounding grounds or multiple facilities of an organization's campus.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Security Managers

Direct an organization's security functions, including physical security and safety of employees and facilities.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At San Diego Mesa College, approximately 16% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 124 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.