Business Operations Support and Assistant Services at UEI College-Bakersfield

At $17,210 one year after graduation, UEI College-Bakersfield's business operations certificate produces earnings that fall far below what families should expect. This program ranks in just the 10th percentile among California schools offering the same credential—meaning 90% of comparable programs in the state deliver better outcomes. Even San Joaquin Valley College's Bakersfield campus, located in the same city, reports earnings of $27,731, more than 60% higher. The gap isn't marginal; graduates here earn $8,400 less than California's median for this certificate and nearly $8,000 below the national average.

The debt load of $9,500 appears modest on paper, but context matters enormously. That amount equals more than half of first-year earnings, creating immediate financial strain for graduates entering minimum-wage-level jobs. While earnings do grow 25% to reach $21,434 by year four, that trajectory still leaves graduates earning less than they would have made starting at most other programs in the state. The high Pell Grant rate (78%) suggests this program serves students with limited financial resources—precisely the population that can least afford a credential delivering bottom-decile results.

Your child could invest the same time and money at several nearby institutions and reasonably expect 50-60% higher starting earnings. Unless there are compelling personal circumstances making this the only accessible option, that's a comparison that demands serious attention.