Business/Commerce at Taft College

A debt load around $11,000 for an associate's degree is manageable territory—peer business programs nationally typically saddle graduates with about $13,000, and California schools tend to run even leaner at $8,500 median. The estimated 0.30 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests this program won't trap graduates in a financial hole, even if the earnings picture itself isn't spectacular.

The real question is what an estimated $36,600 first-year salary buys you. Business associate's degrees in California show enormous variability—DeVry grads reportedly earn $43,700 while Victor Valley sits at $26,000. Where Taft's program would actually land within that $17,000 spread is unclear, but the national benchmark puts it squarely in the middle of the pack. That's enough to cover living expenses in most California markets outside the major metros, though Taft's Kern County location means cost of living works in graduates' favor.

The limited sample size that necessitated these estimates is worth noting—it could signal a small program that provides more individualized attention or simply low enrollment. Either way, your child would be betting on outcomes extrapolated from peer institutions rather than this school's proven track record. If they're planning to transfer these credits toward a bachelor's degree, the affordable debt load makes this a reasonable stepping stone.