Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 103 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$10,257 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.
10.9 yrsModeled economic break-even
−9%Modeled 10-year ROI
$55,935Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$55,935Median reported earnings · year 4
$55,928Average reported earnings · year 5
$21,874Median federal debt
66thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
103Reporting programs
95With 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
- $49,524
- Federal debt
- $11,588
- Reporting programs
- 30
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $55,935
- Federal debt
- $21,874
- Reporting programs
- 103
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $73,884
- Federal debt
- $27,000
- Reporting programs
- 49
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $92,609
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 13
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $91,271
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 10
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $54,763
- 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$51,165National median$55,93575th percentile$58,588
95 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1Wake Technical Community College$83,7152Red Rocks Community College$76,0933Sinclair Community College$74,9994Arapahoe Community College$73,2875Joliet Junior College$71,8226Waukesha County Technical College$71,5387New England Institute of Technology$70,5648Madison Area Technical College$69,7599Dunwoody College of Technology$69,39810Austin Community College District$68,934Observed 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.
Computer Network ArchitectsSOC 15-1241 · 2 crosswalk linksComputer Network Support SpecialistsSOC 15-1231 · 2 crosswalk linksComputer Science Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1021 · 2 crosswalk linksComputer ProgrammersSOC 15-1251 · 1 crosswalk linksComputer Systems AnalystsSOC 15-1211 · 1 crosswalk linksComputer and Information Research ScientistsSOC 15-1221 · 1 crosswalk linksComputer and Information Systems ManagersSOC 11-3021 · 1 crosswalk linksDatabase ArchitectsSOC 15-1243 · 1 crosswalk linksInformation Security AnalystsSOC 15-1212 · 1 crosswalk linksNO MATCHSOC 99-9999 · 1 crosswalk linksSoftware DevelopersSOC 15-1252 · 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 | Wake Technical Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Raleigh, NC | $83,715 | Not available | +260% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Red Rocks Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Lakewood, CO | $76,093 | Not available | +188% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | Sinclair Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Dayton, OH | $74,999 | $17,816 | +194% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | Arapahoe Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Littleton, CO | $73,287 | Not available | +150% | Strong payoff |
| 5 | Joliet Junior CollegeAssociate's Degree | Joliet, IL | $71,822 | Not available | +187% | Strong payoff |
| 6 | Waukesha County Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Pewaukee, WI | $71,538 | Not available | +137% | Strong payoff |
| 7 | New England Institute of TechnologyAssociate's Degree | East Greenwich, RI | $70,564 | $19,845 | +57% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | Madison Area Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Madison, WI | $69,759 | Not available | +109% | Strong payoff |
| 9 | Dunwoody College of TechnologyAssociate's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $69,398 | $18,000 | +70% | Positive payoff |
| 10 | Austin Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | Austin, TX | $68,934 | $12,000 | +133% | Strong payoff |
| 11 | Renton Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Renton, WA | $66,504 | Not available | +102% | Strong payoff |
| 12 | Front Range Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Westminster, CO | $66,078 | $19,438 | +82% | Positive payoff |
| 13 | Johnson County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Overland Park, KS | $65,919 | Not available | +77% | Positive payoff |
| 14 | South Puget Sound Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Olympia, WA | $65,707 | Not available | +91% | Positive payoff |
| 15 | Davenport UniversityAssociate's Degree | Grand Rapids, MI | $64,371 | Not available | +54% | Positive payoff |
| 16 | City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright CollegeAssociate's Degree | Chicago, IL | $63,965 | Not available | +85% | Positive payoff |
| 17 | Gateway Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Kenosha, WI | $63,162 | $22,500 | +57% | Positive payoff |
| 18 | Lakeshore Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Cleveland, WI | $63,053 | $12,722 | +65% | Positive payoff |
| 19 | Houston City CollegeAssociate's Degree | Houston, TX | $62,339 | $18,862 | +71% | Positive payoff |
| 20 | Dallas CollegeAssociate's Degree | Dallas, TX | $62,305 | $13,164 | +79% | Positive payoff |
| 21 | Henry Ford CollegeAssociate's Degree | Dearborn, MI | $61,938 | Not available | +85% | Positive payoff |
| 22 | Lake Washington Institute of TechnologyAssociate's Degree | Kirkland, WA | $60,997 | Not available | +54% | Positive payoff |
| 23 | Iowa Central Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Fort Dodge, IA | $60,982 | $25,375 | +47% | Positive payoff |
| 24 | Western Dakota Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Rapid City, SD | $59,696 | $20,049 | +27% | Positive payoff |
| 25 | Tacoma Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Tacoma, WA | $58,588 | $10,759 | +27% | Positive payoff |
| 26 | DeVry College of New YorkAssociate's Degree | New York, NY | $58,586 | $32,882 | +17% | Positive payoff |
| 27 | DeVry University-ArizonaAssociate's Degree | Phoenix, AZ | $58,586 | $32,882 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 28 | DeVry University-CaliforniaAssociate's Degree | Ontario, CA | $58,586 | $32,882 | -14% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | DeVry University-FloridaAssociate's Degree | Orlando, FL | $58,586 | $32,882 | -9% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | DeVry University-GeorgiaAssociate's Degree | Decatur, GA | $58,586 | $32,882 | -7% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | DeVry University-IllinoisAssociate's Degree | Lisle, IL | $58,586 | $32,882 | -10% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | DeVry University-NevadaAssociate's Degree | Henderson, NV | $58,586 | $32,882 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 33 | DeVry University-New JerseyAssociate's Degree | Iselin, NJ | $58,586 | $32,882 | -5% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | DeVry University-OhioAssociate's Degree | Columbus, OH | $58,586 | $32,882 | -3% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | DeVry University-TexasAssociate's Degree | Irving, TX | $58,586 | $32,882 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 36 | DeVry University-VirginiaAssociate's Degree | Arlington, VA | $58,586 | $32,882 | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | Mid-State Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Wisconsin Rapids, WI | $58,492 | Not available | +21% | Positive payoff |
| 38 | Chippewa Valley Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Eau Claire, WI | $58,028 | $13,500 | +14% | Positive payoff |
| 39 | Hawkeye Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Waterloo, IA | $56,975 | Not available | +10% | Positive payoff |
| 40 | Western Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | La Crosse, WI | $56,759 | $15,832 | +5% | Positive payoff |
| 41 | Herzing University-BirminghamAssociate's Degree | Birmingham, AL | $55,935 | $30,649 | -15% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | Herzing University-AtlantaAssociate's Degree | Atlanta, GA | $55,935 | $30,649 | -18% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | Herzing University-MinneapolisAssociate's Degree | St. Louis Park, MN | $55,935 | $30,649 | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | Herzing University-AkronAssociate's Degree | Akron, OH | $55,935 | $30,649 | -14% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | Herzing University-MadisonAssociate's Degree | Madison, WI | $55,935 | $30,649 | -19% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | Herzing University-OrlandoAssociate's Degree | Winter Park, FL | $55,935 | $30,649 | -16% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | Herzing University-New OrleansAssociate's Degree | Metairie, LA | $55,935 | $30,649 | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | Herzing University-KenoshaAssociate's Degree | Kenosha, WI | $55,935 | $30,649 | -20% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | Herzing University-BrookfieldAssociate's Degree | Brookfield, WI | $55,935 | $30,649 | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | Century CollegeAssociate's Degree | White Bear Lake, MN | $55,656 | $20,000 | -5% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | Wenatchee Valley CollegeAssociate's Degree | Wenatchee, WA | $55,493 | Not available | -4% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | Community College of Baltimore CountyAssociate's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $55,395 | Not available | -5% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | Delaware County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Media, PA | $55,189 | Not available | -1% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | Southeast Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Sioux Falls, SD | $54,950 | $19,725 | -20% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | Milwaukee Area Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Milwaukee, WI | $54,737 | $22,944 | -10% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | Blackhawk Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Janesville, WI | $53,504 | Not available | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 57 | Minnesota State Community and Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Fergus Falls, MN | $53,280 | Not available | -28% | Negative payoff |
| 58 | Honolulu Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Honolulu, HI | $53,204 | Not available | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 59 | Stark State CollegeAssociate's Degree | North Canton, OH | $52,850 | Not available | -23% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | Saint Louis Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Bridgeton, MO | $52,457 | Not available | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | Saint Paul CollegeAssociate's Degree | Saint Paul, MN | $52,173 | $16,065 | -37% | Negative payoff |
| 62 | Oklahoma City Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Oklahoma City, OK | $52,156 | Not available | -28% | Negative payoff |
| 63 | Ozarks Technical Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Springfield, MO | $51,817 | $17,101 | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 64 | College of Eastern IdahoAssociate's Degree | Idaho Falls, ID | $51,792 | Not available | -37% | Negative payoff |
| 65 | South Central CollegeAssociate's Degree | North Mankato, MN | $51,550 | Not available | -39% | Negative payoff |
| 66 | Lewis and Clark Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Godfrey, IL | $51,165 | Not available | -36% | Negative payoff |
| 67 | Charter CollegeAssociate's Degree | Anchorage, AK | $51,034 | $21,442 | -62% | Negative payoff |
| 68 | State Technical College of MissouriAssociate's Degree | Linn, MO | $51,016 | $11,545 | -50% | Negative payoff |
| 69 | Mott Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Flint, MI | $50,237 | Not available | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 70 | Roosevelt UniversityAssociate's Degree | Chicago, IL | $50,026 | $17,499 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 71 | Anoka-Ramsey Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Coon Rapids, MN | $49,774 | Not available | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 72 | Pima Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Tucson, AZ | $49,524 | $12,000 | -53% | Negative payoff |
| 73 | Jefferson CollegeAssociate's Degree | Hillsboro, MO | $49,167 | Not available | -60% | Negative payoff |
| 74 | Lincoln Technical Institute-New BritainAssociate's Degree | New Britain, CT | $48,448 | $17,017 | -78% | Negative payoff |
| 75 | Lincoln Technical Institute-AllentownAssociate's Degree | Allentown, PA | $48,448 | $17,017 | -79% | Negative payoff |
| 76 | Grand Rapids Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Grand Rapids, MI | $48,420 | Not available | -68% | Negative payoff |
| 77 | Remington College-Dallas CampusAssociate's Degree | Dallas, TX | $47,645 | $22,700 | -82% | Negative payoff |
| 78 | College of Business and TechnologyAssociate's Degree | Miami, FL | $46,236 | $26,096 | -90% | Negative payoff |
| 79 | College of Business and TechnologyAssociate's Degree | Cutler Bay, FL | $46,236 | $26,096 | -90% | Negative payoff |
| 80 | Flint Hills Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Emporia, KS | $46,057 | Not available | -91% | Negative payoff |
| 81 | Eastwick College-NutleyAssociate's Degree | Nutley, NJ | $45,740 | $17,728 | -94% | Negative payoff |
| 82 | Hallmark UniversityAssociate's Degree | San Antonio, TX | $45,698 | $21,874 | -94% | Negative payoff |
| 83 | Southern Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Fort Myers, FL | $44,987 | Not available | -100% | Negative payoff |
| 84 | Wichita Technical InstituteAssociate's Degree | Wichita, KS | $42,076 | $25,208 | -123% | Negative payoff |
| 85 | Texas State Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Waco, TX | $40,662 | Not available | -137% | Negative payoff |
| 86 | Johnson CollegeAssociate's Degree | Scranton, PA | $40,330 | Not available | -136% | Negative payoff |
| 87 | NUC UniversityAssociate's Degree | Bayamon, PR | $38,537 | $20,000 | -160% | Negative payoff |
| 88 | Intellitec College-Colorado SpringsAssociate's Degree | Colorado Springs, CO | $37,872 | $21,104 | -147% | Negative payoff |
| 89 | College of DuPageAssociate's Degree | Glen Ellyn, IL | Not available | $10,854 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $7,401 |
| 90 | Indian Hills Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Ottumwa, IA | Not available | $14,085 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $10,693 |
| 91 | Bismarck State CollegeAssociate's Degree | Bismarck, ND | Not available | $19,101 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $10,270 |
| 92 | Harrisburg Area Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Harrisburg, PA | Not available | $26,706 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $14,471 |
| 93 | Lehigh Carbon Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Schnecksville, PA | Not available | $11,309 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $9,203 |
| 94 | Fox Valley Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Appleton, WI | Not available | $11,500 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $11,407 |
| 95 | South Louisiana Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Lafayette, LA | Not available | $10,500 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $12,564 |
| 96 | Pierpont Community and Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Fairmont, WV | Not available | $12,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $8,325 |
| 97 | DeVry University-ColoradoAssociate's Degree | , | $58,586 | $32,882 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 98 | DeVry University-MissouriAssociate's Degree | , | $58,586 | $32,882 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 99 | DeVry University-North CarolinaAssociate's Degree | , | $58,586 | $32,882 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 100 | DeVry University-PennsylvaniaAssociate's Degree | , | $58,586 | $32,882 | 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.