Data Processing: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 21 reporting college programs.
−$24,677 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
- $50,824
- Federal debt
- $10,718
- Reporting programs
- 1
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $53,247
- Federal debt
- $16,959
- Reporting programs
- 21
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $84,099
- Federal debt
- $21,750
- Reporting programs
- 3
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $167,605
- 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.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1American Public University System$63,6732Miami University-Hamilton$62,7073Miami University-Middletown$62,7074Miami University-Oxford$62,7075Greenville Technical College$59,4026Spartanburg Community College$58,8607York Technical College$56,2918Midlands Technical College$53,6189New Mexico State University-Dona Ana$53,24710New Mexico State University-Grants$53,247Observed 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 | American Public University SystemAssociate's Degree | Charles Town, WV | $63,673 | $19,000 | +71% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | Miami University-HamiltonAssociate's Degree | Hamilton, OH | $62,707 | $21,031 | +57% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | Miami University-MiddletownAssociate's Degree | Middletown, OH | $62,707 | $21,031 | +59% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | Miami University-OxfordAssociate's Degree | Oxford, OH | $62,707 | $21,031 | +21% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | Greenville Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Greenville, SC | $59,402 | $21,083 | +27% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | Spartanburg Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Spartanburg, SC | $58,860 | Not available | +46% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | York Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Rock Hill, SC | $56,291 | $15,125 | +11% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | Midlands Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | West Columbia, SC | $53,618 | $14,013 | -13% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | New Mexico State University-Dona AnaAssociate's Degree | Las Cruces, NM | $53,247 | $9,750 | -19% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | New Mexico State University-GrantsAssociate's Degree | Grants, NM | $53,247 | $9,750 | -9% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | New Mexico State University-Main CampusAssociate's Degree | Las Cruces, NM | $53,247 | $9,750 | -23% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Tri-County Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Pendleton, SC | $52,237 | Not available | -39% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | CUNY Bronx Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Bronx, NY | $50,195 | Not available | -47% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | Piedmont Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Greenwood, SC | $49,636 | Not available | -59% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | Trident Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Charleston, SC | $48,936 | Not available | -58% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | CUNY Kingsborough Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $48,306 | Not available | -67% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Horry-Georgetown Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Conway, SC | $45,817 | $16,500 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | SUNY Broome Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Binghamton, NY | $45,553 | Not available | -95% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | Delgado Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | New Orleans, LA | $45,367 | $17,418 | -97% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | CUNY Queensborough Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Bayside, NY | $42,907 | Not available | -121% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Athens Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Athens, GA | $37,133 | Not available | -176% | 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.