Business Operations Support and Assistant Services at San Joaquin Valley College-Delano

San Joaquin Valley College-Delano's business operations certificate costs $9,500 and produces first-year earnings of $27,731—placing it among the top quarter of similar programs nationally and well above California's median for this field. With debt at just one-third of first-year income, graduates can realistically manage repayment on entry-level administrative salaries. The program serves a predominantly low-income student population (76% receive Pell grants) and delivers measurably better outcomes than most alternatives in the state.

The earnings trajectory shows modest but steady growth, reaching $29,398 by year four—a 6% increase that reflects the limited advancement potential typical in administrative support roles. However, the relatively low upfront investment makes this a reasonable trade-off. At under $10,000 in debt, graduates aren't gambling on massive career acceleration to justify their investment. Among California's 149 programs in this field, this performance ranks in the 60th percentile, putting it solidly in the upper half.

For families weighing community college alternatives or questioning whether any credential is worth it for office support work, this program offers a clear answer: the earnings boost over high school credentials justifies the modest debt, and the repayment burden won't derail other financial goals. The robust sample size (100+ graduates) means these aren't fluky numbers—this is what typical graduates actually earn.