Program Payoff

San Diego Mesa College

San Diego, California. 129 certificate and associate programs, public. 129 of them report what graduates earn; for the rest, the figure below is what the occupation pays in California.

ProgramCredentialMedian debtGraduates earnThe occupation pays
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services Associate's degree $47,260 (17) $49,660
Medical Assistants
Health and Medical Administrative Services Associate's degree $41,565 (11) $77,590
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions Undergraduate certificate $32,284 (13) $50,110
Dental Assistants
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians Associate's degree $30,228 (14) $165,110
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Associate's degree $27,669 (14) $100,690
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other
Psychology, General Associate's degree $26,739 (15) $174,560
Managers, All Other
Biology, General Associate's degree $25,194 (16) $101,370
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Sociology Associate's degree $25,194 (13) $174,560
Managers, All Other
Business Administration, Management and Operations Associate's degree $24,035 (41) $124,390
General and Operations Managers
Communication and Media Studies Associate's degree not published $85,030
Public Relations Specialists
Design and Applied Arts Associate's degree not published $100,690
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other
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
Agricultural Production Operations Undergraduate certificate not published $56,280
First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers
Agricultural Production Operations Associate's degree not published $56,280
First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers
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
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services Undergraduate certificate not published $49,660
Medical Assistants
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 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
Architecture Undergraduate certificate not published $210,280
Architectural and Engineering Managers
Biological and Physical Sciences Undergraduate certificate not published $101,370
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
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
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 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
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
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions Associate's degree not published $60,390
Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other
Communication and Media Studies Undergraduate certificate not published $85,030
Public Relations Specialists
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 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
Construction Management Undergraduate certificate not published $120,910
Project Management Specialists
Criminal Justice and Corrections Associate's degree not published $43,240
Security Guards
Culinary Arts and Related Services Undergraduate certificate not published $44,880
Cooks, Restaurant
Culinary Arts and Related Services Associate's degree not published $44,880
Cooks, Restaurant
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 Associate's degree not published $50,110
Dental Assistants
Design and Applied Arts Undergraduate certificate not published $100,690
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Associate's degree not published $129,790
Producers and Directors
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Associate's degree not published $101,370
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Economics Associate's degree not published $94,700
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers Undergraduate certificate not published $76,160
Electricians
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers Associate's degree not published $76,160
Electricians
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians Undergraduate certificate not published $86,090
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians Associate's degree not published $86,090
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Engineering, General Undergraduate certificate not published $210,280
Architectural and Engineering Managers
Engineering, General Associate's degree not published $210,280
Architectural and Engineering Managers
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other Associate's degree not published
English Language and Literature, General Undergraduate certificate not published $101,370
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
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
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations Associate's degree not published $124,390
General and Operations Managers
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 Associate's degree not published $70,770
Interpreters and Translators
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
Food Science and Technology Undergraduate certificate not published $52,910
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Food Science and Technology Associate's degree not published $52,910
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services Undergraduate certificate not published $46,980
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services Associate's degree not published $46,980
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations Undergraduate certificate not published $80,850
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations Associate's degree not published $80,850
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel
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 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 Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other Undergraduate certificate not published
Health and Medical Administrative Services Undergraduate certificate not published $77,590
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians Associate's degree not published $74,400
Industrial Machinery Mechanics
History Associate's degree not published $174,560
Managers, All Other
Hospitality Administration/Management Undergraduate certificate not published $87,570
Business Operations Specialists, All Other
Hospitality Administration/Management Associate's degree not published $87,570
Business Operations Specialists, 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 Associate's degree not published $51,090
Social and Human Service Assistants
Journalism Undergraduate certificate not published $98,030
Editors
Journalism Associate's degree not published $98,030
Editors
Legal Support Services Associate's degree 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
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
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
Natural Resources Conservation and Research Associate's degree not published $96,980
Compliance Officers
Philosophy Associate's degree not published $210,230
Natural Sciences Managers
Physical Science Technologies/Technicians Undergraduate certificate not published $78,350
Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other
Physical Sciences, General Undergraduate certificate not published $101,370
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Physical Sciences, General Associate's degree not published $101,370
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Physics Undergraduate certificate not published $101,370
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Physics Associate's degree not published $101,370
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
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
Psychology, General Undergraduate certificate not published $174,560
Managers, All Other
Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other Undergraduate certificate not published
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 Associate's degree not published $101,370
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Associate's degree not published $101,370
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Social Sciences, General Undergraduate certificate not published $99,650
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Social Sciences, General Associate's degree not published $99,650
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations Undergraduate certificate not published $76,490
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products
Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations Associate's degree not published $76,490
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products
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
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians Undergraduate certificate not published $165,110
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
Visual and Performing Arts, General Associate's degree not published $75,130
Graphic Designers

"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.