Cerritos College’s GM ASEP Program wins national honor for Latino student success, proves highest ROI in higher education

Dr. Jose Fierro, Joe Mulleary and Mariana Pacheco (l-r)Cerritos College’s General Motors Automotive Service Education Program (GM ASEP) has been named the 2025 Examples of Excelenciarecognition winner at the associate level, the nation’s highest honor for evidence-based programs driving Latino student success.

This honor comes just weeks after Cerritos College was named #1 in Los Angeles County and #10 in California for its return on investment, according to the landmark Golden Returns Report by the Colleges Future Foundation and HEA Group. Together, these achievements highlight Cerritos College’s ability to pioneer “learning to earning” pipelines, where students can earn more money faster than at neighboring institutions. 

Launched as the first GM ASEP program in Los Angeles in 1979, Cerritos College's program serves as a national model for equity-driven innovation and workforce transformation. Students receive cutting-edge classroom instruction combined with paid internships at local GM dealerships, gaining hands-on experience with the latest automotive technologies while building professional networks that lead directly to high-demand, high-wage jobs.  

The data speaks for itself: 78 percent graduate on time and 95 percent go straight into employment with GM dealerships, often earning above-average wages from day one. These impressive outcomes are not a matter of luck but result from a strategic collaboration among Cerritos College, General Motors, and regional automotive leaders. This partnership ensures that the curriculum, equipment, and internships align with real-world workforce needs. This exemplifies a high return on investment, transforming education into immediate and measurable economic opportunities.

“This is not just an award. It declares to the nation that Cerritos College is a leader of ROI in higher education,” said Dr. Jose Fierro, president/superintendent of Cerritos College. “Our GM ASEP program proves that when higher education and industry unite with intentional design, students don’t just learn, they launch. Earning the Examples of Excelencia validates our work and drives our commitment to equity-driven, student-focused education that transforms lives.”

With this national recognition, Cerritos College’s GM ASEP program joins an elite group, demonstrating that higher education done right is not a cost but the community’s most valuable investment. Cerritos College stands ready as a trusted partner for students, employers, and communities seeking proven pathways to prosperity.

For more information about the Cerritos College GM ASEP program, visit: https://www.cerritos.edu/auto/asep.htm.