Top 50 Best Certificate Programs in California by ROI

Every Certificate 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

685

Colleges with salary data

Average 20-Yr Net ROI

-$289,563

Across all California programs

Average Annual Cost

$27,344

Cost of attendance

# College Major 20-Yr Net ROI Median Salary Annual Cost Avg Debt
1 Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$1,713,407 $129,369 $33,973 N/A Full ROI →
2 Cabrillo College

Grad rate: 35.3%

 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$1,096,705 $99,029 $23,625 $15,000 Full ROI →
3 Cabrillo College

Grad rate: 35.3%

 Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. +$1,013,795 $93,871 $23,625 N/A Full ROI →
4 Loma Linda University Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. +$991,470 $93,261 N/A $25,000 Full ROI →
5 Victor Valley College

Grad rate: 26.9%

 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$986,494 $91,914 $11,786 N/A Full ROI →
6 Butte College

Grad rate: 32.8%

 Criminal Justice and Corrections. +$801,195 $83,782 $13,636 $15,414 Full ROI →
7 Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts

Grad rate: 70.2%

 Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. +$760,349 $82,446 $34,940 $10,097 Full ROI →
8 Crafton Hills College

Grad rate: 35.2%

 Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. +$744,666 $81,705 $18,384 $23,000 Full ROI →
9 Smith Chason College

Grad rate: 59.1%

 Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. +$742,098 $82,930 $37,295 $29,042 Full ROI →
10 Santa Rosa Junior College

Grad rate: 32.2%

 Criminal Justice and Corrections. +$607,482 $74,010 $13,649 $14,125 Full ROI →
11 Gnomon Design and Applied Arts. +$605,490 $77,240 $48,010 $38,000 Full ROI →
12 University of Phoenix-California

Grad rate: 21.4%

 Computer Programming. +$595,078 $72,728 N/A $14,431 Full ROI →
13 San Bernardino Valley College

Grad rate: 20.6%

 Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions. +$555,585 $70,512 $14,655 N/A Full ROI →
14 Butte College

Grad rate: 32.8%

 Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. +$545,144 $69,939 $13,636 N/A Full ROI →
15 Coalinga College

Grad rate: 34.2%

 Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions. +$498,648 $68,588 $17,249 $11,750 Full ROI →
16 Cabrillo College

Grad rate: 35.3%

 Dental Support Services and Allied Professions. +$442,955 $65,329 $23,625 N/A Full ROI →
17 University of Phoenix-California

Grad rate: 21.4%

 Business Administration, Management and Operations. +$387,327 $62,239 N/A $12,928 Full ROI →
18 Coalinga College

Grad rate: 34.2%

 Psychology, General. +$372,771 $61,501 $17,249 N/A Full ROI →
19 Napa Valley College

Grad rate: 31.7%

 Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions. +$356,897 $60,923 $21,563 N/A Full ROI →
20 Mt San Antonio College

Grad rate: 39.6%

 Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions. +$343,903 $60,474 $12,077 $10,000 Full ROI →
21 National Career Education

Grad rate: 80.6%

 Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR). +$323,346 $60,219 $28,457 $9,316 Full ROI →
22 Institute for Business and Technology

Grad rate: 77.3%

 Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR). +$322,603 $60,219 $29,200 $9,316 Full ROI →
23 Unitek College

Grad rate: 74.5%

 Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants. +$307,921 $59,982 $28,357 $17,305 Full ROI →
24 California State University-Fresno

Grad rate: 55.5%

 Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. +$300,450 $57,955 $18,650 N/A Full ROI →
25 InterCoast Colleges-West Covina

Grad rate: 81.3%

 Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants. +$278,832 $57,515 $31,468 N/A Full ROI →
26 Cabrillo College

Grad rate: 35.3%

 Business/Commerce, General. +$239,255 $55,144 $23,625 N/A Full ROI →
27 Azusa Pacific University

Grad rate: 62.8%

 Health/Medical Preparatory Programs. +$225,165 $55,995 $54,735 N/A Full ROI →
28 Unitek College

Grad rate: 74.0%

 Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants. +$207,967 $55,061 $29,891 $17,305 Full ROI →
29 Unitek College

Grad rate: 82.1%

 Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants. +$206,767 $55,061 $31,091 $17,305 Full ROI →
30 Ukiah Adult School Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants. +$195,020 $51,751 N/A N/A Full ROI →
31 College of the Desert

Grad rate: 28.1%

 Criminal Justice and Corrections. +$179,087 $51,957 $20,053 N/A Full ROI →
32 Santa Rosa Junior College

Grad rate: 32.2%

 Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies. +$178,071 $51,586 $13,649 N/A Full ROI →
33 Platt College-Los Angeles

Grad rate: 64.8%

 Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians. +$175,004 $52,411 $33,216 N/A Full ROI →
34 San Joaquin Valley College-Trades Education Center

Grad rate: 59.3%

 Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies. +$163,790 $51,589 $27,990 N/A Full ROI →
35 San Diego City College

Grad rate: 23.9%

 Electrical and Power Transmission Installers. +$162,725 $50,799 $13,255 N/A Full ROI →
36 University of Phoenix-California

Grad rate: 21.4%

 Human Resources Management and Services. +$151,520 $50,439 N/A $12,785 Full ROI →
37 San Joaquin Valley College-Fresno

Grad rate: 51.6%

 Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies. +$151,018 $51,589 $27,937 $9,500 Full ROI →
38 San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield

Grad rate: 45.7%

 Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies. +$150,816 $51,589 $28,139 $9,500 Full ROI →
39 San Joaquin Valley College-Modesto

Grad rate: 56.6%

 Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies. +$150,562 $51,589 $28,393 $9,500 Full ROI →
40 San Joaquin Valley College-Ontario

Grad rate: 56.6%

 Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies. +$149,380 $51,589 $29,575 $9,500 Full ROI →
41 San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia

Grad rate: 32.9%

 Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies. +$146,192 $51,589 $32,763 $9,500 Full ROI →
42 Carrington College-San Jose

Grad rate: 54.8%

 Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. +$139,678 $52,084 $35,002 $20,000 Full ROI →
43 The Chicago School at Los Angeles Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants. +$139,582 $50,351 N/A $20,324 Full ROI →
44 Carrington College-Sacramento

Grad rate: 51.8%

 Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. +$134,092 $52,084 $40,588 $20,000 Full ROI →
45 Concorde Career College-San Diego

Grad rate: 66.5%

 Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants. +$131,605 $51,186 $28,923 $17,179 Full ROI →
46 Xavier College School of Nursing

Grad rate: 75.0%

 Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants. +$122,051 $50,223 $19,661 $16,850 Full ROI →
47 Los Angeles Trade Technical College

Grad rate: 25.3%

 Electrical and Power Transmission Installers. +$118,744 $48,863 $18,516 N/A Full ROI →
48 San Joaquin Valley College-Trades Education Center

Grad rate: 59.3%

 Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR). +$116,210 $49,210 $27,990 N/A Full ROI →
49 Smith Chason College

Grad rate: 59.1%

 Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants. +$110,884 $50,625 $37,295 $18,015 Full ROI →
50 Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts

Grad rate: 70.2%

 Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants. +$109,062 $50,369 $34,940 $17,317 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.