A study was conducted to determine the earnings made by students while enrolled at Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) in California, and during their first and third years after leaving SBCC. The study, which compared employment status and earnings by occupational field, and outcomes for associate-degree completers and those earning 12 or more credits at SBCC, matched Social Security numbers of students who attended the college from 1986-87 to 1989-90 with income data collected from employers by the California Employment Development Department. Annual earnings data are somewhat understated in that total wages are reported and averaged regardless of how many hours per week the employee works. Study findings included the following: (1) the percentage of graduates who found year-round employment in California during their first year after leaving SBCC ranged from 100% for Drafting/Computer Aided Design graduates to 55% for Marine Diving Technology graduates; (2) the third year of post-college earnings for associate degree recipients was highest among nursing graduates ($33,370); (3) the average annual wage for all SBCC occupational students completing 12 or more units of coursework was $22,436 in their first year, and $26,427 in their third year after leaving SBCC; (4) the percentage of former students finding year-round employment increased from 68% to 73% from the first to third year after leaving SBCC; (5) among degree recipients, annual wages increased by 41% between the first and third year of post-SBCC employment, as compared with a 28% increase for those leaving SBCC after earning 12 or more units; and (6) among students who completed an associate's degree, economically disadvantaged students earned almost as much money as non-economically disadvantaged students. (PAA)