Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 22 reporting college programs.
−$13,412 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
- $33,070
- Federal debt
- $10,813
- Reporting programs
- 10
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $55,105
- Federal debt
- $17,246
- Reporting programs
- 22
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $79,501
- Federal debt
- $36,156
- Reporting programs
- 35
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.
1Excelsior University$99,7532California Institute of Arts & Technology$66,0483Anoka Technical College$63,6394Western Technical College$63,1165ECPI University$62,7626Ranken Technical College$59,3197Cuyahoga Community College District$56,3878CUNY Queensborough Community College$56,2079Connecticut State Community College$54,00310Lorain County Community College$50,844Observed 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 | Excelsior UniversityAssociate's Degree | Albany, NY | $99,753 | $12,875 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 2 | California Institute of Arts & TechnologyAssociate's Degree | National City, CA | $66,048 | $21,696 | +36% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | Anoka Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Anoka, MN | $63,639 | $20,000 | +50% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | Western Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | La Crosse, WI | $63,116 | Not available | +62% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | ECPI UniversityAssociate's Degree | Virginia Beach, VA | $62,762 | $26,460 | +31% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | Ranken Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Saint Louis, MO | $59,319 | $12,000 | +12% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | Cuyahoga Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | Cleveland, OH | $56,387 | Not available | +16% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | CUNY Queensborough Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Bayside, NY | $56,207 | Not available | +13% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | Connecticut State Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | New Britain, CT | $54,003 | Not available | -20% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Lorain County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Elyria, OH | $50,844 | Not available | -40% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of TechnologyAssociate's Degree | Boston, MA | $50,206 | $13,750 | -57% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Stark State CollegeAssociate's Degree | North Canton, OH | $44,203 | $12,747 | -108% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | Arkansas State University-BeebeAssociate's Degree | Beebe, AR | $39,421 | Not available | -149% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | Commonwealth Technical InstituteAssociate's Degree | Johnstown, PA | $26,472 | Not available | -263% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | Cincinnati State Technical and Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Cincinnati, OH | Not available | $17,246 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $4,968 |
| 16 | Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo CampusAssociate's Degree | Gurabo, PR | Not available | $7,029 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $7,051 |
| 17 | California Institute of Arts & Technology-National CityAssociate's Degree | , | $66,048 | $21,696 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 18 | Pittsburgh Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | , | $58,276 | $20,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 19 | Naugatuck Valley Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | , | $54,003 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 20 | Three Rivers Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | , | $54,003 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 21 | Northwestern Connecticut Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | , | $54,003 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 22 | Connecticut State Community College GatewayAssociate's Degree | , | $54,003 | Not available | 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.