Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 13 reporting college programs.
+$163 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.
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
- $45,679
- Federal debt
- $11,250
- Reporting programs
- 72
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $57,129
- Federal debt
- $17,571
- Reporting programs
- 13
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $69,956
- Federal debt
- $23,250
- Reporting programs
- 5
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $107,285
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $59,327
- 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.
1Austin Community College District$67,7122Ferris State University$66,7193St Cloud Technical and Community College$66,2344Ranken Technical College$63,9085New England Institute of Technology$62,3996Northeast Wisconsin Technical College$58,1277Pennsylvania College of Technology$56,1318Texas State Technical College$55,2099Columbus State Community College$50,18810College of Business and Technology$48,102Observed 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 | Austin Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | Austin, TX | $67,712 | Not available | +121% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Ferris State UniversityAssociate's Degree | Big Rapids, MI | $66,719 | $11,000 | +103% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | St Cloud Technical and Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Saint Cloud, MN | $66,234 | Not available | +94% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | Ranken Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Saint Louis, MO | $63,908 | $12,000 | +48% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | New England Institute of TechnologyAssociate's Degree | East Greenwich, RI | $62,399 | $18,414 | +7% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | Northeast Wisconsin Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Green Bay, WI | $58,127 | Not available | +20% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | Pennsylvania College of TechnologyAssociate's Degree | Williamsport, PA | $56,131 | Not available | -21% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Texas State Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Waco, TX | $55,209 | $16,417 | -13% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Columbus State Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Columbus, OH | $50,188 | Not available | -51% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | College of Business and TechnologyAssociate's Degree | Miami, FL | $48,102 | $20,225 | -75% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | College of Business and TechnologyAssociate's Degree | Hialeah, FL | $48,102 | $20,225 | -72% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Western Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | El Paso, TX | $47,305 | $23,276 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 13 | ITI Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Baton Rouge, LA | Not available | $16,728 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $20,850 |
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.