Program Payoff

Palomar College

San Marcos, California. 144 certificate and associate programs, public. 144 of them report what graduates earn; for the rest, the figure below is what the occupation pays in California.

ProgramCredentialMedian debtGraduates earnThe occupation pays
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers Undergraduate certificate $84,691 (13) $76,160
Electricians
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Associate's degree $69,338 (24) $140,270
Registered Nurses
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Associate's degree $52,107 (26) $100,690
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other
Social Sciences, General Associate's degree $24,035 (25) $99,650
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Accounting and Related Services Undergraduate certificate not published $97,050
Accountants and Auditors
Accounting and Related Services Associate's degree not published $97,050
Accountants and Auditors
Air Transportation Undergraduate certificate not published $123,780
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
Air Transportation Associate's degree not published $123,780
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Undergraduate certificate not published $60,390
Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Associate's degree not published $60,390
Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other
American Sign Language Undergraduate certificate not published $101,370
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
American Sign Language Associate's degree not published $101,370
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Anthropology Associate's degree not published $174,560
Managers, All Other
Apparel and Textiles Undergraduate certificate not published $94,700
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
Apparel and Textiles Associate's degree not published $94,700
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
Archeology Undergraduate certificate not published $174,560
Managers, All Other
Archeology Associate's degree not published $174,560
Managers, All Other
Architectural Sciences and Technology Undergraduate certificate not published $210,280
Architectural and Engineering Managers
Architectural Sciences and Technology Associate's degree not published $210,280
Architectural and Engineering Managers
Astronomy and Astrophysics Undergraduate certificate not published $210,230
Natural Sciences Managers
Astronomy and Astrophysics Associate's degree not published $210,230
Natural Sciences Managers
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians Undergraduate certificate not published $64,620
Audio and Video Technicians
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians Associate's degree not published $64,620
Audio and Video Technicians
Biological and Physical Sciences Associate's degree not published $101,370
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Biology, General Undergraduate certificate not published $101,370
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Biology, General Associate's degree not published $101,370
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection Undergraduate certificate not published $57,000
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection Associate's degree not published $57,000
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General
Business Administration, Management and Operations Undergraduate certificate not published $124,390
General and Operations Managers
Business Administration, Management and Operations Associate's degree not published $124,390
General and Operations Managers
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services Undergraduate certificate not published $48,460
Office Clerks, General
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services Associate's degree not published $48,460
Office Clerks, General
Business/Commerce, General Associate's degree not published $124,390
General and Operations Managers
Carpenters Undergraduate certificate not published $75,920
Carpenters
Carpenters Associate's degree not published $75,920
Carpenters
Chemistry Undergraduate certificate not published $101,370
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Chemistry Associate's degree not published $101,370
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Communication and Media Studies Associate's degree not published $85,030
Public Relations Specialists
Computer Programming Undergraduate certificate not published $174,410
Software Developers
Computer Programming Associate's degree not published $174,410
Software Developers
Computer Science Undergraduate certificate not published $174,410
Software Developers
Computer Science Associate's degree not published $174,410
Software Developers
Computer Software and Media Applications Undergraduate certificate not published $174,410
Software Developers
Computer Software and Media Applications Associate's degree not published $174,410
Software Developers
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications Undergraduate certificate not published $174,410
Software Developers
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications Associate's degree not published $174,410
Software Developers
Computer and Information Sciences, General Undergraduate certificate not published $174,410
Software Developers
Computer and Information Sciences, General Associate's degree not published $174,410
Software Developers
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management Undergraduate certificate not published $120,910
Project Management Specialists
Construction Trades, Other Undergraduate certificate not published
Criminal Justice and Corrections Undergraduate certificate not published $43,240
Security Guards
Criminal Justice and Corrections Associate's degree not published $43,240
Security Guards
Dance Undergraduate certificate not published $99,410
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
Dance Associate's degree not published $99,410
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions Undergraduate certificate not published $50,110
Dental Assistants
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions Associate's degree not published $50,110
Dental Assistants
Design and Applied Arts Undergraduate certificate not published $100,690
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other
Design and Applied Arts Associate's degree not published $100,690
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians Undergraduate certificate not published $76,520
Architectural and Civil Drafters
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians Associate's degree not published $76,520
Architectural and Civil Drafters
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Undergraduate certificate not published $129,790
Producers and Directors
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Associate's degree not published $129,790
Producers and Directors
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Undergraduate certificate not published $101,370
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Associate's degree not published $101,370
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Economics Undergraduate certificate not published $94,700
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
Economics Associate's degree not published $94,700
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
Education, General Associate's degree not published $111,850
Education Teachers, Postsecondary
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers Associate's degree not published $76,160
Electricians
Engineering, General Associate's degree not published $210,280
Architectural and Engineering Managers
English Language and Literature, General Associate's degree not published $101,370
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations Undergraduate certificate not published $124,390
General and Operations Managers
Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians Undergraduate certificate not published $72,560
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians Associate's degree not published $72,560
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies Undergraduate certificate not published $70,770
Interpreters and Translators
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies Associate's degree not published $70,770
Interpreters and Translators
Film/Video and Photographic Arts Undergraduate certificate not published $129,790
Producers and Directors
Film/Video and Photographic Arts Associate's degree not published $129,790
Producers and Directors
Fine and Studio Arts Associate's degree not published $101,370
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Fire Protection Undergraduate certificate not published $174,560
Managers, All Other
Fire Protection Associate's degree not published $174,560
Managers, All Other
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services Associate's degree not published $46,980
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
Geography and Cartography Undergraduate certificate not published $174,560
Managers, All Other
Geography and Cartography Associate's degree not published $174,560
Managers, All Other
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences Associate's degree not published $210,230
Natural Sciences Managers
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Undergraduate certificate not published $101,370
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Associate's degree not published $101,370
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Graphic Communications Undergraduate certificate not published $47,010
Data Entry Keyers
Graphic Communications Associate's degree not published $47,010
Data Entry Keyers
Health and Medical Administrative Services Undergraduate certificate not published $77,590
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
Health and Medical Administrative Services Associate's degree not published $77,590
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
History Associate's degree not published $174,560
Managers, All Other
Homeland Security Associate's degree not published $174,560
Managers, All Other
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services Undergraduate certificate not published $51,090
Social and Human Service Assistants
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services Associate's degree not published $51,090
Social and Human Service Assistants
Human Services, General Undergraduate certificate not published $51,090
Social and Human Service Assistants
Human Services, General Associate's degree not published $51,090
Social and Human Service Assistants
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians Associate's degree not published $58,060
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
International Business Undergraduate certificate not published $124,390
General and Operations Managers
International Business Associate's degree not published $124,390
General and Operations Managers
Journalism Undergraduate certificate not published $98,030
Editors
Journalism Associate's degree not published $98,030
Editors
Legal Support Services Undergraduate certificate not published $77,390
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Undergraduate certificate not published $100,690
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other
Library and Archives Assisting Undergraduate certificate not published $53,260
Library Technicians
Library and Archives Assisting Associate's degree not published $53,260
Library Technicians
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services Associate's degree not published $101,370
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Mason/Masonry Undergraduate certificate not published $97,680
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
Mathematics Associate's degree not published $101,370
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions Undergraduate certificate not published $65,200
Child, Family, and School Social Workers
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions Associate's degree not published $65,200
Child, Family, and School Social Workers
Music Undergraduate certificate not published $101,370
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Music Associate's degree not published $101,370
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Natural Resources Conservation and Research Undergraduate certificate not published $96,980
Compliance Officers
Non-Professional Legal Studies Associate's degree not published $77,390
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies Associate's degree not published $127,780
Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
Philosophy Associate's degree not published $210,230
Natural Sciences Managers
Political Science and Government Associate's degree not published $174,560
Managers, All Other
Precision Metal Working Undergraduate certificate not published $58,060
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
Precision Metal Working Associate's degree not published $58,060
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Undergraduate certificate not published $51,230
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other
Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Associate's degree not published $51,230
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other
Psychology, General Associate's degree not published $174,560
Managers, All Other
Public Administration Associate's degree not published $124,390
General and Operations Managers
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Undergraduate certificate not published $75,790
Training and Development Specialists
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Associate's degree not published $75,790
Training and Development Specialists
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians Undergraduate certificate not published $54,300
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication Undergraduate certificate not published $174,560
Managers, All Other
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication Associate's degree not published $174,560
Managers, All Other
Real Estate Undergraduate certificate not published $77,030
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers
Real Estate Associate's degree not published $77,030
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Undergraduate certificate not published $101,370
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Associate's degree not published $101,370
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Security Science and Technology Associate's degree not published $97,050
Accountants and Auditors
Sociology Associate's degree not published $174,560
Managers, All Other
Special Education and Teaching Undergraduate certificate not published $101,060
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
Special Education and Teaching Associate's degree not published $101,060
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness Undergraduate certificate not published $57,990
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness Associate's degree not published $57,990
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Undergraduate certificate not published $64,980
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Associate's degree not published $64,980
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
Visual and Performing Arts, General Associate's degree not published $75,130
Graphic Designers
Visual and Performing Arts, Other Undergraduate certificate not published $99,410
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
Woodworking Undergraduate certificate not published $49,030
Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters
Woodworking Associate's degree not published $49,030
Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters

"Graduates earn" is the median two years after completing, from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, released 2026-06-10; the number in brackets is how many graduates it covers. A dash means the Department has not published a figure — it withholds any median computed from too few graduates — and never that the figure is zero. "The occupation pays" is the state median for the occupation the program leads to, from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, and describes everyone in that job rather than graduates of this school.