Electrical and Power Transmission Installers at San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield

San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield manages to deliver above-average outcomes for a certificate program that costs notably less than most alternatives. At $12,727 in debt—ranking in just the 16th percentile nationally—students graduate owing about $3,000 more than the national median but roughly $1,000 more than California's typical program. The upside: first-year earnings of $43,388 beat both state and national medians by meaningful margins, placing graduates in the 60th percentile among California programs and 64th nationally.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29 means graduates owe less than three months' salary, a manageable burden that most students can tackle within a couple years. This matters especially given that 57% of students receive Pell grants—these aren't wealthy families, yet the program delivers economic mobility without crushing debt. The top programs in California earn about $7,000 more annually, but none report significantly lower debt, making this a solid middle-ground option.

For families focused on getting into electrical work quickly without four-year costs, this certificate does what it should: it opens the door to steady skilled-trade income with debt that won't follow your child around for a decade. The robust sample size means these aren't fluky numbers—this represents consistent outcomes across 100+ graduates.