Business Operations Support and Assistant Services: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 73 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$190,074 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.
—Modeled economic break-even
−167%Modeled 10-year ROI
$37,383Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$37,383Median reported earnings · year 4
$36,004Average reported earnings · year 5
$20,000Median federal debt
16thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
73Reporting programs
64With 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.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $32,277
- Federal debt
- $9,500
- Reporting programs
- 135
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $37,383
- Federal debt
- $20,000
- Reporting programs
- 73
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $23,549
- Federal debt
- $19,256
- Reporting programs
- 12
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $43,057
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
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$33,842National median$37,38375th percentile$46,147
64 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of the District of Columbia$57,3912Chippewa Valley Technical College$49,2033Connecticut State Community College$47,9044Trinity Valley Community College$47,0045CUNY Hostos Community College$46,9386San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia$46,1477San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield$46,1478San Joaquin Valley College-Ontario$46,1479San Joaquin Valley College-Modesto$46,14710San Joaquin Valley College-Hesperia$46,147Observed 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.
Order ClerksSOC 43-4151 · 3 crosswalk linksCargo and Freight AgentsSOC 43-5011 · 2 crosswalk linksCustomer Service RepresentativesSOC 43-4051 · 2 crosswalk linksExecutive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsSOC 43-6011 · 2 crosswalk linksFirst-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersSOC 43-1011 · 2 crosswalk linksHuman Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and TimekeepingSOC 43-4161 · 2 crosswalk linksSecretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and ExecutiveSOC 43-6014 · 2 crosswalk linksBusiness Operations Specialists, All OtherSOC 13-1199 · 1 crosswalk linksCorrespondence ClerksSOC 43-4021 · 1 crosswalk linksData Entry KeyersSOC 43-9021 · 1 crosswalk linksDispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceSOC 43-5032 · 1 crosswalk linksFile ClerksSOC 43-4071 · 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 | University of the District of ColumbiaAssociate's Degree | Washington, DC | $57,391 | Not available | +11% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | Chippewa Valley Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Eau Claire, WI | $49,203 | $22,650 | -63% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | Connecticut State Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | New Britain, CT | $47,904 | Not available | -74% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | Trinity Valley Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Athens, TX | $47,004 | $13,124 | -80% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | CUNY Hostos Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Bronx, NY | $46,938 | Not available | -81% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | San Joaquin Valley College-VisaliaAssociate's Degree | Visalia, CA | $46,147 | $20,000 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | San Joaquin Valley College-BakersfieldAssociate's Degree | Bakersfield, CA | $46,147 | $20,000 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | San Joaquin Valley College-OntarioAssociate's Degree | Ontario, CA | $46,147 | $20,000 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | San Joaquin Valley College-ModestoAssociate's Degree | Salida, CA | $46,147 | $20,000 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | San Joaquin Valley College-HesperiaAssociate's Degree | Hesperia, CA | $46,147 | $20,000 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | San Joaquin Valley College-TemeculaAssociate's Degree | Temecula, CA | $46,147 | $20,000 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | San Joaquin Valley College-LancasterAssociate's Degree | Lancaster, CA | $46,147 | $20,000 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho MirageAssociate's Degree | Rancho Mirage, CA | $46,147 | $20,000 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | Madison Area Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Madison, WI | $44,820 | Not available | -102% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | Tidewater Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Norfolk, VA | $41,825 | $22,300 | -128% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | Dallas CollegeAssociate's Degree | Dallas, TX | $41,109 | Not available | -140% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Virginia Peninsula Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Hampton, VA | $41,083 | $16,604 | -138% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | Plaza CollegeAssociate's Degree | Forest Hills, NY | $41,038 | $21,540 | -131% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | Spokane Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Spokane, WA | $40,802 | Not available | -142% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | Delaware Technical Community College-TerryAssociate's Degree | Dover, DE | $40,504 | Not available | -140% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Gwinnett Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Lawrenceville, GA | $39,987 | $16,250 | -148% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | Bob Jones UniversityAssociate's Degree | Greenville, SC | $39,838 | Not available | -142% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | Central Georgia Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Warner Robins, GA | $39,497 | Not available | -153% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | Vincennes UniversityAssociate's Degree | Vincennes, IN | $38,290 | Not available | -160% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | George C Wallace Community College-DothanAssociate's Degree | Dothan, AL | $37,933 | Not available | -177% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | New River Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Dublin, VA | $37,394 | Not available | -174% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | Spartanburg Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Spartanburg, SC | $37,371 | Not available | -180% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | Georgia Northwestern Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Rome, GA | $36,946 | Not available | -179% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | Houston City CollegeAssociate's Degree | Houston, TX | $36,872 | $37,503 | -180% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | Interactive College of Technology-ChambleeAssociate's Degree | Chamblee, GA | $36,595 | $14,323 | -169% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | Interactive College of Technology-MorrowAssociate's Degree | Morrow, GA | $36,595 | $14,323 | -168% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | Interactive College of Technology-NewportAssociate's Degree | Newport, KY | $36,595 | $14,323 | -168% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | Interactive College of Technology-GainesvilleAssociate's Degree | Gainesville, GA | $36,595 | $14,323 | -168% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | Eastern Iowa Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | Davenport, IA | $36,464 | Not available | -172% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | Southeast Community College AreaAssociate's Degree | Lincoln, NE | $36,464 | Not available | -179% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | Bristol Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Fall River, MA | $36,206 | Not available | -187% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | Bevill State Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Jasper, AL | $35,458 | Not available | -194% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | Ivy Tech Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Indianapolis, IN | $35,340 | $11,946 | -192% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | North Georgia Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Clarkesville, GA | $34,924 | Not available | -203% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | York Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Rock Hill, SC | $34,787 | $16,640 | -200% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | Greenville Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Greenville, SC | $34,495 | $31,500 | -193% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | Wytheville Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Wytheville, VA | $33,842 | Not available | -212% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | Tri-County Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Pendleton, SC | $33,376 | $11,550 | -197% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | Piedmont Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Greenwood, SC | $33,218 | $19,750 | -205% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | Butte CollegeAssociate's Degree | Oroville, CA | $32,902 | Not available | -220% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | Rowan College of South Jersey-Cumberland CampusAssociate's Degree | Vineland, NJ | $32,768 | Not available | -210% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester CampusAssociate's Degree | Sewell, NJ | $32,768 | Not available | -207% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | University of Arkansas-Fort SmithAssociate's Degree | Fort Smith, AR | $31,742 | Not available | -219% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | Arkansas Tech UniversityAssociate's Degree | Russellville, AR | $31,711 | $19,050 | -215% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | Shelton State Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Tuscaloosa, AL | $31,569 | Not available | -213% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | Gadsden State Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Gadsden, AL | $31,533 | Not available | -239% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | Northwood Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Rice Lake, WI | $31,016 | $16,500 | -230% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | Central Louisiana Technical Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Alexandria, LA | $30,999 | Not available | -238% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | South Texas CollegeAssociate's Degree | McAllen, TX | $29,889 | Not available | -262% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | Danville Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Danville, VA | $29,751 | Not available | -248% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | Ohio Business College-SheffieldAssociate's Degree | Sheffield Village, OH | $29,015 | $31,683 | -208% | Negative payoff |
| 57 | Brigham Young University-IdahoAssociate's Degree | Rexburg, ID | Not available | $6,959 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $8,221 |
| 58 | Mississippi Gulf Coast Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Perkinston, MS | Not available | $16,382 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $6,962 |
| 59 | Bryant & Stratton College-Syracuse NorthAssociate's Degree | Liverpool, NY | Not available | $27,300 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $15,217 |
| 60 | Bryant & Stratton College-BuffaloAssociate's Degree | Buffalo, NY | Not available | $27,300 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $14,135 |
| 61 | Bryant & Stratton College-GreeceAssociate's Degree | Rochester, NY | Not available | $27,300 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $11,503 |
| 62 | Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia BeachAssociate's Degree | Virginia Beach, VA | Not available | $27,300 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $12,038 |
| 63 | Gateway Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Kenosha, WI | Not available | $19,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $12,928 |
| 64 | Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey CampusAssociate's Degree | San Juan, PR | Not available | $11,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $7,646 |
| 65 | Bryant & Stratton College-OnlineAssociate's Degree | Orchard Park, NY | Not available | $27,300 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $15,187 |
| 66 | Asnuntuck Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | , | $47,904 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 67 | Connecticut State Community College HousatonicAssociate's Degree | , | $47,904 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 68 | Manchester Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | , | $47,904 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 69 | Connecticut State Community College GatewayAssociate's Degree | , | $47,904 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 70 | Connecticut State Community College TunxisAssociate's Degree | , | $47,904 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 71 | San Joaquin Valley College-FresnoNot currently operating | Fresno, CA | $46,147 | $20,000 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 72 | Long Island Business InstituteAssociate's Degree | , | $36,118 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 73 | Ohio Business College-SanduskyAssociate's Degree | , | $29,015 | $31,683 | 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.