Biological and Physical Sciences: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 86 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$51,002 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.
19.6 yrsModeled economic break-even
−49%Modeled 10-year ROI
$50,340Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$50,340Median reported earnings · year 4
$49,597Average reported earnings · year 5
$8,639Median federal debt
56thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
86Reporting programs
85With year-4 earnings
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.
CURRENT VIEW
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $50,340
- Federal debt
- $8,639
- Reporting programs
- 86
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $63,018
- Federal debt
- $26,000
- Reporting programs
- 39
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $117,497
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 7
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.
Median
25th percentile$46,269National median$50,34075th percentile$56,162
85 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1Woodland Community College$89,0412San Diego City College$77,0943De Anza College$71,0644Elgin Community College$67,3235Copper Mountain Community College$66,0946San Joaquin Delta College$65,4257Santiago Canyon College$65,2108Modesto Junior College$64,4449Antelope Valley Community College District$63,61410San Bernardino Valley College$63,205Observed 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.
Natural Sciences ManagersSOC 11-9121 · 1 crosswalk linksPostsecondary Teachers, All OtherSOC 25-1199 · 1 crosswalk linksSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationSOC 25-2031 · 1 crosswalk links
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 | Woodland Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Woodland, CA | $89,041 | Not available | +313% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | San Diego City CollegeAssociate's Degree | San Diego, CA | $77,094 | Not available | +203% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | De Anza CollegeAssociate's Degree | Cupertino, CA | $71,064 | Not available | +152% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | Elgin Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Elgin, IL | $67,323 | Not available | +119% | Strong payoff |
| 5 | Copper Mountain Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Joshua Tree, CA | $66,094 | Not available | +95% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | San Joaquin Delta CollegeAssociate's Degree | Stockton, CA | $65,425 | Not available | +115% | Strong payoff |
| 7 | Santiago Canyon CollegeAssociate's Degree | Orange, CA | $65,210 | Not available | +114% | Strong payoff |
| 8 | Modesto Junior CollegeAssociate's Degree | Modesto, CA | $64,444 | $9,036 | +103% | Strong payoff |
| 9 | Antelope Valley Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | Lancaster, CA | $63,614 | Not available | +90% | Positive payoff |
| 10 | San Bernardino Valley CollegeAssociate's Degree | San Bernardino, CA | $63,205 | Not available | +42% | Positive payoff |
| 11 | Heartland Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Normal, IL | $62,651 | $11,000 | +55% | Positive payoff |
| 12 | Moreno Valley CollegeAssociate's Degree | Moreno Valley, CA | $62,331 | Not available | +68% | Positive payoff |
| 13 | Joliet Junior CollegeAssociate's Degree | Joliet, IL | $60,852 | $6,500 | +70% | Positive payoff |
| 14 | Blue Ridge Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Weyers Cave, VA | $60,535 | $8,650 | +32% | Positive payoff |
| 15 | College of the DesertAssociate's Degree | Palm Desert, CA | $59,719 | Not available | +21% | Positive payoff |
| 16 | Yuba CollegeAssociate's Degree | Marysville, CA | $59,650 | Not available | +54% | Positive payoff |
| 17 | Los Angeles Pierce CollegeAssociate's Degree | Woodland Hills, CA | $59,287 | Not available | +23% | Positive payoff |
| 18 | Ferris State UniversityAssociate's Degree | Big Rapids, MI | $58,134 | $19,104 | +22% | Positive payoff |
| 19 | Ventura CollegeAssociate's Degree | Ventura, CA | $58,128 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 20 | West Valley CollegeAssociate's Degree | Saratoga, CA | $56,438 | Not available | +18% | Positive payoff |
| 21 | Shasta CollegeAssociate's Degree | Redding, CA | $56,192 | $12,324 | +17% | Positive payoff |
| 22 | Los Angeles City CollegeAssociate's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $56,162 | Not available | +1% | Positive payoff |
| 23 | Sussex County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Newton, NJ | $55,699 | Not available | +1% | Positive payoff |
| 24 | Riverside City CollegeAssociate's Degree | Riverside, CA | $54,768 | $8,712 | -8% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman CollegeAssociate's Degree | Chicago, IL | $54,410 | $9,500 | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | William Rainey Harper CollegeAssociate's Degree | Palatine, IL | $54,379 | $8,250 | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | Crafton Hills CollegeAssociate's Degree | Yucaipa, CA | $53,835 | Not available | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | Solano Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Fairfield, CA | $53,777 | Not available | -12% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | Laurel Ridge Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Middletown, VA | $53,653 | $8,400 | -15% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | Kaskaskia CollegeAssociate's Degree | Centralia, IL | $53,633 | Not available | -16% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | Los Angeles Trade Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $53,233 | Not available | -28% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright CollegeAssociate's Degree | Chicago, IL | $53,058 | $5,583 | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley CollegeAssociate's Degree | Chicago, IL | $52,454 | $8,250 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | Triton CollegeAssociate's Degree | River Grove, IL | $52,421 | $10,984 | -24% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | College of DuPageAssociate's Degree | Glen Ellyn, IL | $52,007 | $10,664 | -33% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | San Diego Mesa CollegeAssociate's Degree | San Diego, CA | $51,936 | $7,785 | -32% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington CollegeAssociate's Degree | Chicago, IL | $51,025 | $8,750 | -43% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | Victor Valley CollegeAssociate's Degree | Victorville, CA | $50,905 | $9,205 | -37% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | Lincoln Land Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Springfield, IL | $50,823 | $10,000 | -41% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | Illinois Valley Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Oglesby, IL | $50,741 | $6,363 | -39% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | Cerritos CollegeAssociate's Degree | Norwalk, CA | $50,527 | $8,945 | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | Morton CollegeAssociate's Degree | Cicero, IL | $50,393 | $6,000 | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | Chaffey CollegeAssociate's Degree | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | $50,340 | $6,848 | -47% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | Black Hawk CollegeAssociate's Degree | Moline, IL | $50,172 | $5,500 | -50% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | Santa Ana CollegeAssociate's Degree | Santa Ana, CA | $50,156 | $8,042 | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | Waubonsee Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Sugar Grove, IL | $49,992 | $8,067 | -56% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | McHenry County CollegeAssociate's Degree | Crystal Lake, IL | $49,990 | $7,500 | -52% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | J Sargeant Reynolds Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Richmond, VA | $49,555 | $10,948 | -55% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | Parkland CollegeAssociate's Degree | Champaign, IL | $49,181 | $8,628 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | College of Lake CountyAssociate's Degree | Grayslake, IL | $49,153 | $7,833 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King CollegeAssociate's Degree | Chicago, IL | $49,098 | $9,500 | -62% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | Oakton CollegeAssociate's Degree | Des Plaines, IL | $48,644 | Not available | -64% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | Moraine Valley Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Palos Hills, IL | $48,554 | $6,500 | -63% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | Lake Land CollegeAssociate's Degree | Mattoon, IL | $48,077 | Not available | -67% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | Santa Rosa Junior CollegeAssociate's Degree | Santa Rosa, CA | $47,743 | Not available | -73% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | Rock Valley CollegeAssociate's Degree | Rockford, IL | $47,679 | $6,632 | -73% | Negative payoff |
| 57 | Virginia Western Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Roanoke, VA | $47,601 | $7,334 | -74% | Negative payoff |
| 58 | City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X CollegeAssociate's Degree | Chicago, IL | $47,500 | $8,965 | -76% | Negative payoff |
| 59 | Southwestern Illinois CollegeAssociate's Degree | Belleville, IL | $47,418 | $6,196 | -78% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey CollegeAssociate's Degree | Chicago, IL | $47,366 | $5,500 | -78% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | San Jacinto Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Pasadena, TX | $47,229 | $9,250 | -80% | Negative payoff |
| 62 | Northern Virginia Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Annandale, VA | $46,956 | $10,500 | -82% | Negative payoff |
| 63 | Lewis and Clark Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Godfrey, IL | $46,834 | $8,315 | -81% | Negative payoff |
| 64 | Virginia Peninsula Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Hampton, VA | $46,269 | $10,400 | -88% | Negative payoff |
| 65 | Kishwaukee CollegeAssociate's Degree | Malta, IL | $46,128 | $9,407 | -89% | Negative payoff |
| 66 | Tidewater Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Norfolk, VA | $45,557 | $9,787 | -95% | Negative payoff |
| 67 | Sauk Valley Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Dixon, IL | $45,005 | Not available | -100% | Negative payoff |
| 68 | South Suburban CollegeAssociate's Degree | South Holland, IL | $44,903 | $8,271 | -101% | Negative payoff |
| 69 | Norco CollegeAssociate's Degree | Norco, CA | $44,674 | Not available | -103% | Negative payoff |
| 70 | Richland Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Decatur, IL | $44,259 | Not available | -108% | Negative payoff |
| 71 | Imperial Valley CollegeAssociate's Degree | Imperial, CA | $43,842 | Not available | -113% | Negative payoff |
| 72 | Lake Tahoe Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | South Lake Tahoe, CA | $43,757 | Not available | -112% | Negative payoff |
| 73 | John Wood Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Quincy, IL | $43,445 | Not available | -115% | Negative payoff |
| 74 | Hudson County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Jersey City, NJ | $43,419 | $6,128 | -115% | Negative payoff |
| 75 | American River CollegeAssociate's Degree | Sacramento, CA | $43,319 | $14,400 | -116% | Negative payoff |
| 76 | Napa Valley CollegeAssociate's Degree | Napa, CA | $43,305 | Not available | -114% | Negative payoff |
| 77 | College of the RedwoodsAssociate's Degree | Eureka, CA | $42,531 | Not available | -124% | Negative payoff |
| 78 | Mt San Jacinto Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | San Jacinto, CA | $41,855 | $6,625 | -130% | Negative payoff |
| 79 | Orange Coast CollegeAssociate's Degree | Costa Mesa, CA | $41,701 | Not available | -132% | Negative payoff |
| 80 | Rend Lake CollegeAssociate's Degree | Ina, IL | $41,686 | Not available | -131% | Negative payoff |
| 81 | Community College of Baltimore CountyAssociate's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $41,514 | $12,000 | -132% | Negative payoff |
| 82 | Shawnee Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Ullin, IL | $41,226 | Not available | -138% | Negative payoff |
| 83 | Highland Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Freeport, IL | $41,202 | Not available | -137% | Negative payoff |
| 84 | San Jose City CollegeAssociate's Degree | San Jose, CA | $40,609 | Not available | -135% | Negative payoff |
| 85 | Los Angeles Harbor CollegeAssociate's Degree | Wilmington, CA | $39,396 | Not available | -148% | Negative payoff |
| 86 | Thomas Edison State UniversityAssociate's Degree | Trenton, NJ | Not available | $10,562 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
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.