• A college education can open doors that were previously closed.school image by horacio villamonte from Fotolia.com
  
  With the completion of a college degree, doors that once were closed fling open. And for those in the Brentwood, Calif. area there are several educational institutions where you can get an associate, bachelor's or master's degree, as well as a certificate of completion. There's money to be made after your hat is tossed on graduation day. College graduates between the ages of 25 to 34 earn roughly $20k more than their counterparts that only graduated from high school.
  
  

Sacramento City College

• About an hour drive outside of Brentwood, Sacramento City College is a two-year community college which serves the greater Sacramento region. Boasting an enrollment of roughly 20,000, the college offers a variety of degrees, certificates, courses and transfer majors including: aeronautics, journalism, music and cosmetology. SCC also offers distance learning, which allows students to take courses without having to drive to the campus.
  
  Sacramento City College
  
  3835 Freeport Blvd.
  
  Sacramento, CA 95822
  
  916-558-2111
  
  scc.losrios.edu
  
  

University of the Pacific--Stockton Campus

• Less than 30 miles outside of Brentwood, the University of the Pacific--Stockton Campus offers a broad selection of courses through its 80 undergraduate programs and 18 graduate programs. Undergraduate programs range from computer science to Asian language and studies. Psychology and sports sciences are two of the 18 graduate opportunities offered. The school also is home to several festivals including Red Bluff Round-up, one of the largest rodeos on the professional circuit.
  
  University of the Pacific--Stockton Campus
  
  3601 Pacific Ave.
  
  Stockton, CA 95211
  
  209-946-2285
  
  pacific.edu
  
  

• John F. Kennedy University is 30 miles away from Brentwood and features undergraduate programs such as psychology and legal studies. Plus, the university offers several master's, doctorate degrees, as well as certificates. JFK also allows non-degree seeking students to take courses for academic credit without enrolling in a degree program. Department approval, however, is required for non-degree seeking students before registering. Plus, the university provides legal service--administered by its law students--to those in need.
  
  John F. Kennedy
  
  100 Ellinwood Way
  
  Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
  
  800-696-5358
  
  jfku.edu