Agricultural Business and Management: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 21 reporting college programs.
−$82,494 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting associate's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 2-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
Observed national outcomes
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $50,046
- Federal debt
- $10,697
- Reporting programs
- 5
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $48,565
- Federal debt
- $12,000
- Reporting programs
- 21
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $65,882
- Federal debt
- $20,000
- Reporting programs
- 80
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $115,779
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 3
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Hawkeye Community College$64,6882South Central College$60,2823Bismarck State College$58,3924North Carolina State University at Raleigh$56,3385Des Moines Area Community College$55,5466Vincennes University$55,0007University of Northwestern Ohio$54,9608SUNY Morrisville$50,7239Iowa Central Community College$50,55510Kirkwood Community College$50,182Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawkeye Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Waterloo, IA | $64,688 | Not available | +80% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | South Central CollegeAssociate's Degree | North Mankato, MN | $60,282 | Not available | +41% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | Bismarck State CollegeAssociate's Degree | Bismarck, ND | $58,392 | $12,000 | +21% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | North Carolina State University at RaleighAssociate's Degree | Raleigh, NC | $56,338 | $12,750 | -9% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | Des Moines Area Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Ankeny, IA | $55,546 | $9,000 | -6% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Vincennes UniversityAssociate's Degree | Vincennes, IN | $55,000 | Not available | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | University of Northwestern OhioAssociate's Degree | Lima, OH | $54,960 | Not available | -25% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | SUNY MorrisvilleAssociate's Degree | Morrisville, NY | $50,723 | Not available | -53% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Iowa Central Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Fort Dodge, IA | $50,555 | Not available | -49% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Kirkwood Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Cedar Rapids, IA | $50,182 | $11,000 | -53% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | Ohio State University Agricultural Technical InstituteAssociate's Degree | Wooster, OH | $48,565 | $12,000 | -72% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Ohio State University-Main CampusAssociate's Degree | Columbus, OH | $48,565 | $12,000 | -71% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | Southeast Community College AreaAssociate's Degree | Lincoln, NE | $48,497 | $10,748 | -68% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | Lake Area Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Watertown, SD | $48,305 | $12,000 | -73% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | North Dakota State College of ScienceAssociate's Degree | Wahpeton, ND | $45,051 | $11,956 | -100% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | Northeast Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Norfolk, NE | $44,808 | $10,575 | -102% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Crowder CollegeAssociate's Degree | Neosho, MO | $40,401 | Not available | -143% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | Texas State Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Waco, TX | $33,002 | Not available | -203% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | Stautzenberger College-MaumeeAssociate's Degree | Maumee, OH | $32,027 | $27,773 | -197% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | Stautzenberger College-BrecksvilleAssociate's Degree | Brecksville, OH | $32,027 | $27,773 | -194% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career CollegeAssociate's Degree | Rockford, IL | $32,027 | $27,773 | -197% | Negative payoff |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.