Construction Engineering Technology/Technician: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 9 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Strong payoff
+$165,208 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.
Observed earnings clearly outpace the comparison earnings and estimated education cost in this scenario.
4.1 yrsModeled economic break-even
+145%Modeled 10-year ROI
$72,927Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$72,927Median reported earnings · year 4
$73,751Average reported earnings · year 5
$12,563Median federal debt
88thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
9Reporting programs
9With 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
- $71,302
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $72,927
- Federal debt
- $12,563
- Reporting programs
- 9
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $92,524
- Federal debt
- $24,745
- Reporting programs
- 45
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $101,174
- 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$59,247National median$72,92775th percentile$82,170
9 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology$100,0522Ferris State University$83,5363University of Akron Main Campus$82,1704Columbus State Community College$81,5465Dallas College$72,9276Lake Area Technical College$72,2257Texas State Technical College$59,2478Hudson Valley Community College$58,1909Pennsylvania College of Technology$52,808Observed 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.
Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansSOC 17-3022 · 1 crosswalk linksConstruction ManagersSOC 11-9021 · 1 crosswalk linksCost EstimatorsSOC 13-1051 · 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 | Oklahoma State University Institute of TechnologyAssociate's Degree | Okmulgee, OK | $100,052 | $12,000 | +392% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Ferris State UniversityAssociate's Degree | Big Rapids, MI | $83,536 | $13,000 | +259% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | University of Akron Main CampusAssociate's Degree | Akron, OH | $82,170 | $24,709 | +215% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | Columbus State Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Columbus, OH | $81,546 | Not available | +242% | Strong payoff |
| 5 | Dallas CollegeAssociate's Degree | Dallas, TX | $72,927 | Not available | +190% | Strong payoff |
| 6 | Lake Area Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Watertown, SD | $72,225 | $12,000 | +123% | Strong payoff |
| 7 | Texas State Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Waco, TX | $59,247 | $12,125 | +22% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | Hudson Valley Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Troy, NY | $58,190 | Not available | +23% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | Pennsylvania College of TechnologyAssociate's Degree | Williamsport, PA | $52,808 | $16,095 | -44% | Negative 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.