Graphic Communications: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 24 reporting college programs.
−$172,446 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
- $34,184
- Federal debt
- $11,250
- Reporting programs
- 8
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $38,274
- Federal debt
- $11,626
- Reporting programs
- 24
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $43,058
- Federal debt
- $27,000
- Reporting programs
- 69
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $58,803
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 3
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $23,653
- 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.
1Salt Lake Community College$50,8572Ferris State University$45,0333Austin Community College District$44,1524Camden County College$43,9015Columbus State Community College$42,6346Hawkeye Community College$41,7267Front Range Community College$41,6438South Central College$40,7699Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology$40,11710Lake Washington Institute of Technology$39,874Observed 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 | Salt Lake Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Salt Lake City, UT | $50,857 | $11,375 | -47% | Negative payoff |
| 2 | Ferris State UniversityAssociate's Degree | Big Rapids, MI | $45,033 | $11,678 | -100% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | Austin Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | Austin, TX | $44,152 | $11,626 | -108% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | Camden County CollegeAssociate's Degree | Blackwood, NJ | $43,901 | Not available | -111% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | Columbus State Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Columbus, OH | $42,634 | Not available | -122% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Hawkeye Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Waterloo, IA | $41,726 | Not available | -130% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Front Range Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Westminster, CO | $41,643 | $13,275 | -129% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | South Central CollegeAssociate's Degree | North Mankato, MN | $40,769 | Not available | -139% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Thaddeus Stevens College of TechnologyAssociate's Degree | Lancaster, PA | $40,117 | $8,625 | -141% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Lake Washington Institute of TechnologyAssociate's Degree | Kirkland, WA | $39,874 | Not available | -149% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | Southeast Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Sioux Falls, SD | $38,597 | Not available | -151% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Middlesex CollegeAssociate's Degree | Edison, NJ | $38,274 | $8,525 | -171% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | Houston City CollegeAssociate's Degree | Houston, TX | $34,557 | Not available | -203% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | Pikes Peak State CollegeAssociate's Degree | Colorado Springs, CO | $34,178 | Not available | -206% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | Dallas CollegeAssociate's Degree | Dallas, TX | $33,606 | Not available | -218% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | CUNY Hostos Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Bronx, NY | $33,591 | Not available | -213% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Western Iowa Tech Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Sioux City, IA | $32,620 | Not available | -215% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | Niagara County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Sanborn, NY | $31,355 | Not available | -232% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | Orange County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Middletown, NY | $29,860 | Not available | -246% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | Miami Dade CollegeAssociate's Degree | Miami, FL | $24,972 | Not available | -298% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Kalamazoo Valley Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Kalamazoo, MI | $24,335 | Not available | -315% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | New York, NY | $23,713 | Not available | -313% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | Ozarks Technical Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Springfield, MO | Not available | $19,500 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $6,936 |
| 24 | Delaware College of Art and DesignAssociate's Degree | , | $30,749 | 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.