Cerritos College

Norwalk, CA 18,870 Undergrads 30.2% Grad Rate

School Website|Financial Calculator

Total Cost

$10,236

Sticker Price

Avg Net Price

$2,424

After Aid

Median Earnings

$54,818

4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$2,424

Peer Midpoint: $17,333.5

Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$54,818

Peer Midpoint: $34,461

Graduation Rate30.2%

Peer Midpoint: 68.7%

Socio-Economic Diversity

Pell Grant Recipients38.5%

Enrollment Status

Full-Time45.1%

Economic Outcomes

Earn More than HS54.2%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance

100.0%

SAT Avg

SAT Reading

25th: --75th: -

SAT Math

25th: --75th: -

ACT Composite

25th: --75th: -

ROI Sensitivity Analysis

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)

Institution Lifetime NPV

Vs Median Peer

Vs HS Grad

Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0

+$627k

+$236k

+$143k

Median Cost$2k/yr

+$625k

+$234k

+$141k

Full Cost$10k/yr

+$618k

+$226k

+$133k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age

Return on Inv. %

Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0

∞

Median Cost$2k/yr

6258%

Full Cost$10k/yr

1406%

Analysis Assumptions:

Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return2827%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return614%

Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Certificates

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services

CertCIP: 5108

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$32,500

Natl Median: $34,272

Lifetime Value Added

-$108k

Business Administration, Management and Operations

CertCIP: 5202

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$61,921

Natl Median: $47,440

Lifetime Value Added

+$214k

Communication and Media Studies

CertCIP: 0901

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $43,761

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Communication Disorders Sciences and Services

CertCIP: 5102

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $54,143

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services

CertCIP: 1204

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$27,191

Natl Median: $26,307

Lifetime Value Added

-$160k

Culinary Arts and Related Services

CertCIP: 1205

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$28,236

Natl Median: $30,572

Lifetime Value Added

-$135k

Dental Support Services and Allied Professions

CertCIP: 5106

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $33,673

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians

CertCIP: 1513

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $53,359

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General

CertCIP: 1500

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $57,354

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations

CertCIP: 5207

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $50,211

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Graphic Communications

CertCIP: 1003

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $32,130

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services

CertCIP: 1907

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $31,135

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Human Services, General

CertCIP: 4400

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $36,390

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

International Business

CertCIP: 5211

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $72,496

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Legal Support Services

CertCIP: 2203

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$76,742

Natl Median: $49,747

Lifetime Value Added

+$359k

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

CertCIP: 2401

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$51,842

Natl Median: $44,906

Lifetime Value Added

+$109k

Precision Metal Working

CertCIP: 4805

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $48,702

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Real Estate

CertCIP: 5215

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $46,762

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies

CertCIP: 2313

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $55,975

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians

CertCIP: 4706

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $51,586

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Woodworking

CertCIP: 4807

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $44,664

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Associate's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services

AssocCIP: 5203

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$64,506

Natl Median: $47,660

Lifetime Value Added

+$170k

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services

AssocCIP: 5108

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$58,974

Natl Median: $42,269

Lifetime Value Added

+$130k

Architectural Sciences and Technology

AssocCIP: 0409

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $55,403

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians

AssocCIP: 1002

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $35,660

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Biological and Physical Sciences

AssocCIP: 3001

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$50,527

Natl Median: $50,181

Lifetime Value Added

+$49k

Biology, General

AssocCIP: 2601

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $44,758

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Business Administration, Management and Operations

AssocCIP: 5202

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$60,343

Natl Median: $48,733

Lifetime Value Added

+$143k

Business/Commerce, General

AssocCIP: 5201

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$57,832

Natl Median: $49,927

Lifetime Value Added

+$109k

Chemistry

AssocCIP: 4005

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $51,597

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Communication and Media Studies

AssocCIP: 0901

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$47,794

Natl Median: $43,243

Lifetime Value Added

+$13k

Communication Disorders Sciences and Services

AssocCIP: 5102

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$45,689

Natl Median: $40,082

Lifetime Value Added

-$8k

Computer Programming

AssocCIP: 1102

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $58,070

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Computer Science

AssocCIP: 1107

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $62,283

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Computer Systems Analysis

AssocCIP: 1105

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $59,167

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications

AssocCIP: 1109

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $54,971

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services

AssocCIP: 1204

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $27,014

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Criminal Justice and Corrections

AssocCIP: 4301

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$44,073

Natl Median: $46,706

Lifetime Value Added

-$24k

Culinary Arts and Related Services

AssocCIP: 1205

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $39,605

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Dance

AssocCIP: 5003

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $30,547

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Dental Support Services and Allied Professions

AssocCIP: 5106

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$87,282

Natl Median: $61,982

Lifetime Value Added

+$387k

Design and Applied Arts

AssocCIP: 5004

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $38,127

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians

AssocCIP: 1513

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $55,895

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Economics

AssocCIP: 4506

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $53,068

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Engineering, General

AssocCIP: 1401

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $72,916

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

English Language and Literature, General

AssocCIP: 2301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $36,134

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Film/Video and Photographic Arts

AssocCIP: 5006

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $33,186

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Fine and Studio Arts

AssocCIP: 5007

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $31,650

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations

AssocCIP: 5218

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $46,500

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Graphic Communications

AssocCIP: 1003

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $36,221

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

History

AssocCIP: 5401

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$37,530

Natl Median: $38,929

Lifetime Value Added

-$89k

Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services

AssocCIP: 1907

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$26,222

Natl Median: $34,184

Lifetime Value Added

-$197k

Human Services, General

AssocCIP: 4400

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $39,422

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Legal Support Services

AssocCIP: 2203

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$35,594

Natl Median: $44,669

Lifetime Value Added

-$86k

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

AssocCIP: 2401

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$42,923

Natl Median: $44,125

Lifetime Value Added

-$27k

Mathematics

AssocCIP: 2701

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $59,929

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other

AssocCIP: 3099

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$68,923

Natl Median: $50,491

Lifetime Value Added

+$222k

Music

AssocCIP: 5009

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $34,056

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Physics

AssocCIP: 4008

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $63,321

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Political Science and Government

AssocCIP: 4510

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $45,147

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Precision Metal Working

AssocCIP: 4805

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $56,451

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Psychology, General

AssocCIP: 4201

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$37,641

Natl Median: $39,288

Lifetime Value Added

-$88k

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

AssocCIP: 5138

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$108,092

Natl Median: $80,813

Lifetime Value Added

+$573k

Sociology

AssocCIP: 4511

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$43,979

Natl Median: $44,144

Lifetime Value Added

-$25k

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness

AssocCIP: 3105

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $40,162

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians

AssocCIP: 4706

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $58,424

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Visual and Performing Arts, General

AssocCIP: 5001

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $32,799

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Woodworking

AssocCIP: 4807

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $42,867

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.