Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians at San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia

This program's graduates earn $27,027 one year after completion—nearly $9,000 below California's median for veterinary tech programs and in just the 25th percentile statewide. That means three-quarters of California vet tech programs deliver better first-year earnings. The gap is even starker nationally, where graduates rank in the bottom 5th percentile. Compare this to Mt San Antonio College, where California vet tech graduates earn over $40,000, or even the state median of $36,236—both representing 30-40% higher starting salaries for the same credential.

The $20,000 debt load equals the state median, so borrowing costs aren't unusually high. But paired with earnings this low, graduates face a challenging financial picture. The 9% earnings growth to $29,567 by year four helps slightly, but still leaves graduates well behind peers from other California programs. For context, nearly half of students here receive Pell grants, suggesting many come from families where financial return on education matters acutely.

If your child is set on veterinary technology in California, community college options like Mt San Antonio deliver significantly stronger earnings outcomes at likely lower cost. This program's combination of below-average earnings and typical debt makes it difficult to justify unless geographic constraints severely limit other options.