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ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE · DEGREE PAYOFF · FEDERAL FIELD 4005

Chemistry: is this associate's degree worth it?

National picture across 1 reporting college programs.

MODELED SCENARIO · Positive payoff

+$55,090 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.

This is a positive modeled result. Price, time to finish and future earnings can still change the outcome.

6.5 yrsModeled economic break-even

+54%Modeled 10-year ROI

$60,787Observed earnings · year 4

Economic ROI includes direct price and earnings forgone during study · $45,000 comparison earnings · values held flat · see the formula

WHAT THIS DEGREE PAYS

Observed national outcomes

$60,787Median reported earnings · year 4

Not availableAverage reported earnings · year 5

$12,412Median federal debt

74thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential

1Reporting programs

1With year-4 earnings

COMPARE CREDENTIAL LEVELS

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: $42,544
Federal debt: $13,818
Reporting programs: 1

1 report earnings →CURRENT VIEW

Associate's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $60,787
Federal debt: $12,412
Reporting programs: 1

1 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Bachelor's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $66,171
Federal debt: $24,000
Reporting programs: 277

213 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Master's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $95,163
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 9

9 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Doctoral Degree

Year-4 earnings: $116,122
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 38

38 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)

Year-4 earnings: $90,234
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 1

1 report earnings →

COLLEGE-TO-COLLEGE RANGE

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$60,787National median$60,78775th percentile$60,787

1 programs report year‑4 earnings.

WHERE OUTCOMES ARE STRONGEST

See the spread, not just the national number.

1Austin Community College District$60,787

Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking

WHERE THIS FIELD CAN LEAD

Related occupations

Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.

Chemistry Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1052 · 12 crosswalk linksChemistsSOC 19-2031 · 12 crosswalk linksNatural Sciences ManagersSOC 11-9121 · 12 crosswalk linksChemical TechniciansSOC 19-4031 · 5 crosswalk linksForensic Science TechniciansSOC 19-4092 · 2 crosswalk linksComputer Occupations, All OtherSOC 15-1299 · 1 crosswalk linksComputer and Information Research ScientistsSOC 15-1221 · 1 crosswalk linksData ScientistsSOC 15-2051 · 1 crosswalk linksEnvironmental Science Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1053 · 1 crosswalk linksEnvironmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthSOC 19-4042 · 1 crosswalk linksEnvironmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthSOC 19-2041 · 1 crosswalk linksFood Science TechniciansSOC 19-4013 · 1 crosswalk links

BEST COLLEGES FOR CHEMISTRY

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	Austin Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree	Austin, TX	$60,787	$12,412	+54%	Positive 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.