Top 50 Best Associate Degree Programs in California by ROI

Every Associate Degree program in California ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all majors. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Programs in California

661

Colleges with salary data

Average 20-Yr Net ROI

-$29,746

Across all California programs

Average Annual Cost

$20,242

Cost of attendance

#	College	Major	20-Yr Net ROI	Median Salary	Annual Cost	Avg Debt
1	Contra Costa College Grad rate: 28.2%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,780,509	$133,295	$14,511	$12,125	Full ROI →
2	Sacramento City College Grad rate: 28.5%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,570,087	$123,056	$13,062	$18,451	Full ROI →
3	Ohlone College Grad rate: 55.1%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,432,968	$115,939	$22,906	N/A	Full ROI →
4	Foothill College Grad rate: 58.4%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$1,409,996	$114,887	$15,772	$12,000	Full ROI →
5	College of Marin Grad rate: 34.4%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,367,893	$114,267	$23,789	$22,125	Full ROI →
6	Los Angeles Southwest College Grad rate: 22.6%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,352,584	$111,106	$14,768	N/A	Full ROI →
7	Los Angeles City College Grad rate: 23.8%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,321,637	$110,644	$16,176	$13,993	Full ROI →
8	Yuba College Grad rate: 30.3%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,277,735	$107,696	$12,200	$8,729	Full ROI →
9	Santa Rosa Junior College Grad rate: 32.2%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,257,757	$107,245	$13,649	$14,700	Full ROI →
10	Unitek College Grad rate: 74.5%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,184,483	$105,890	$28,357	$27,113	Full ROI →
11	City College of San Francisco Grad rate: 38.3%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,177,337	$103,265	$17,007	$10,332	Full ROI →
12	Skyline College Grad rate: 40.8%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$1,140,018	$100,047	$10,461	N/A	Full ROI →
13	College of San Mateo Grad rate: 50.6%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,098,148	$98,961	$11,875	$12,831	Full ROI →
14	Los Angeles City College Grad rate: 23.8%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$1,079,208	$97,578	$16,176	N/A	Full ROI →
15	Solano Community College Grad rate: 33.8%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,078,185	$97,762	$11,440	$10,500	Full ROI →
16	Chabot College Grad rate: 37.9%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,040,189	$96,258	$12,953	$14,122	Full ROI →
17	Santa Barbara City College Grad rate: 37.9%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,036,096	$97,093	$18,682	$21,037	Full ROI →
18	Santa Ana College Grad rate: 29.2%	Fire Protection.	+$1,024,244	$95,342	$11,848	$14,000	Full ROI →
19	Pacific Union College Grad rate: 48.8%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,016,262	$99,360	$47,244	$27,000	Full ROI →
20	American River College Grad rate: 29.5%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,002,247	$94,784	$12,986	$20,341	Full ROI →
21	Carrington College-Sacramento Grad rate: 51.8%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$973,375	$97,140	$40,588	$35,740	Full ROI →
22	Merced College Grad rate: 29.1%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$970,583	$92,662	$12,722	$12,750	Full ROI →
23	Columbia College Grad rate: 28.7%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$943,798	$92,056	$19,688	$13,293	Full ROI →
24	Napa Valley College Grad rate: 31.7%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$936,194	$90,966	$21,563	N/A	Full ROI →
25	Antelope Valley Community College District Grad rate: 30.5%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$933,612	$90,967	$15,158	$11,416	Full ROI →
26	Napa Valley College Grad rate: 31.7%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$932,434	$90,778	$21,563	N/A	Full ROI →
27	Santa Rosa Junior College Grad rate: 32.2%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$927,442	$89,737	$13,649	N/A	Full ROI →
28	College of the Canyons Grad rate: 43.4%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$927,386	$90,558	$10,243	$17,250	Full ROI →
29	Butte College Grad rate: 32.8%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$914,351	$90,119	$13,636	$15,375	Full ROI →
30	Los Angeles Harbor College Grad rate: 32.5%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$897,638	$89,932	$19,463	$16,352	Full ROI →
31	Chabot College Grad rate: 37.9%	Dental Support Services and Allied Professions.	+$891,154	$87,853	$12,953	N/A	Full ROI →
32	Modesto Junior College Grad rate: 25.4%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$884,275	$88,452	$14,769	$11,279	Full ROI →
33	Rio Hondo College Grad rate: 26.0%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$869,945	$88,475	$19,308	$15,510	Full ROI →
34	Ventura College Grad rate: 40.8%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$856,938	$87,190	$9,762	$20,250	Full ROI →
35	Citrus College Grad rate: 42.8%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$854,656	$85,974	$12,412	N/A	Full ROI →
36	Shasta College Grad rate: 30.2%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$830,668	$85,734	$11,881	$15,000	Full ROI →
37	Cypress College Grad rate: 34.4%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$829,896	$85,070	$15,752	N/A	Full ROI →
38	San Diego City College Grad rate: 23.9%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$821,710	$84,411	$13,255	N/A	Full ROI →
39	Bakersfield College Grad rate: 22.4%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$813,272	$84,672	$13,726	$9,419	Full ROI →
40	Cuesta College Grad rate: 44.0%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$812,164	$85,944	$20,561	$18,958	Full ROI →
41	Moorpark College Grad rate: 40.2%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$809,238	$84,583	$9,685	$17,075	Full ROI →
42	Mount Saint Mary's University Grad rate: 56.7%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$799,206	$89,999	$64,637	$23,333	Full ROI →
43	Pasadena City College Grad rate: 41.1%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$794,802	$83,823	$12,166	$12,834	Full ROI →
44	Fresno City College Grad rate: 25.8%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$791,454	$83,319	$12,063	$8,000	Full ROI →
45	Riverside City College Grad rate: 32.3%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$782,956	$83,133	$12,427	$11,000	Full ROI →
46	Cerritos College Grad rate: 29.1%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$782,713	$83,079	$8,409	$16,332	Full ROI →
47	Evergreen Valley College Grad rate: 38.6%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$775,481	$83,906	$22,557	$12,981	Full ROI →
48	Allan Hancock College Grad rate: 28.2%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$772,672	$81,788	$11,544	N/A	Full ROI →
49	Los Angeles Trade Technical College Grad rate: 25.3%	Electrical and Power Transmission Installers.	+$769,608	$82,332	$18,516	N/A	Full ROI →
50	Lemoore College Grad rate: 41.3%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$765,502	$83,032	$18,119	$14,000	Full ROI →

How ROI is calculated

20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.