Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 13 reporting college programs.
−$88,163 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
- $55,600
- Federal debt
- $13,722
- Reporting programs
- 4
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $48,534
- Federal debt
- $12,000
- Reporting programs
- 13
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $56,937
- Federal debt
- $24,998
- Reporting programs
- 14
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.
1Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus$60,4642Pennsylvania State University-World Campus$60,4643Horry-Georgetown Technical College$59,7744University of Massachusetts-Amherst$57,0935Pennsylvania College of Technology$48,9646Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute$48,5347Ohio State University-Main Campus$48,5348North Carolina State University at Raleigh$45,6379Southeast Technical College$45,57610Kirkwood Community College$44,354Observed 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 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusAssociate's Degree | University Park, PA | $60,464 | $30,716 | -1% | Negative payoff |
| 2 | Pennsylvania State University-World CampusAssociate's Degree | University Park, PA | $60,464 | $30,716 | +20% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | Horry-Georgetown Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Conway, SC | $59,774 | Not available | +50% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | University of Massachusetts-AmherstAssociate's Degree | Amherst, MA | $57,093 | $11,000 | -10% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | Pennsylvania College of TechnologyAssociate's Degree | Williamsport, PA | $48,964 | $12,000 | -72% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Ohio State University Agricultural Technical InstituteAssociate's Degree | Wooster, OH | $48,534 | $12,000 | -72% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Ohio State University-Main CampusAssociate's Degree | Columbus, OH | $48,534 | $12,000 | -72% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | North Carolina State University at RaleighAssociate's Degree | Raleigh, NC | $45,637 | $14,375 | -95% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Southeast Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Sioux Falls, SD | $45,576 | Not available | -95% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Kirkwood Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Cedar Rapids, IA | $44,354 | $11,000 | -106% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | Spartanburg Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Spartanburg, SC | $42,768 | Not available | -124% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Front Range Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Westminster, CO | $42,677 | Not available | -120% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at CobleskillAssociate's Degree | Cobleskill, NY | $42,193 | Not available | -122% | 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.