Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Victor Valley College

Victor Valley College graduates with this associate degree start at just $17,383—barely above minimum wage—placing them in the bottom 10% of California liberal arts programs. That's $10,000 below the state median and roughly $14,000 less than what graduates from Diablo Valley College or Los Medanos College earn in comparable programs. Even the modest $9,469 debt burden represents half a year's starting salary, creating immediate financial pressure.

The 79% earnings jump to $31,038 by year four offers some redemption. Graduates essentially catch up to—and slightly surpass—both state and national benchmarks after this initial struggle. This pattern suggests many students may be working part-time or in survival jobs immediately after graduation before finding better opportunities. For the 35% of students here receiving Pell grants, that first year could be particularly difficult financially.

Here's the reality: if your child needs immediate income after graduation, this program underperforms dramatically compared to other California community colleges. If they can weather a rough first year—perhaps while living at home or working full-time—the eventual earnings make the investment reasonable. But other nearby community colleges deliver better starting salaries without requiring that painful transition period.