Ground Transportation: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 2 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Positive payoff
+$93,465 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.
5.8 yrsModeled economic break-even
+72%Modeled 10-year ROI
$67,338Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$67,338Median reported earnings · year 4
Not availableAverage reported earnings · year 5
$12,000Median federal debt
83thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
Not availableIPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
2With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 0 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
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
- $53,102
- Federal debt
- $7,875
- Reporting programs
- 114
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $67,338
- Federal debt
- $12,000
- Reporting programs
- 2
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $58,353
- 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$62,389National median$67,33875th percentile$62,389
2 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.
Find the colleges that fit your constraints
Keep this exact federal field and credential fixed, then narrow the reporting colleges by location, sector and federal debt.
2 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Northwest Iowa Community College$72,2862Pennsylvania College of Technology$62,389Observed 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.
Crane and Tower OperatorsSOC 53-7021 · 2 crosswalk linksHighway Maintenance WorkersSOC 47-4051 · 2 crosswalk linksOperating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsSOC 47-2073 · 2 crosswalk linksBus Drivers, SchoolSOC 53-3051 · 1 crosswalk linksBus Drivers, Transit and IntercitySOC 53-3052 · 1 crosswalk linksCareer/Technical Education Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1194 · 1 crosswalk linksContinuous Mining Machine OperatorsSOC 47-5041 · 1 crosswalk linksDredge OperatorsSOC 53-7031 · 1 crosswalk linksEarth Drillers, Except Oil and GasSOC 47-5023 · 1 crosswalk linksExcavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface MiningSOC 47-5022 · 1 crosswalk linksExplosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and BlastersSOC 47-5032 · 1 crosswalk linksExtraction Workers, All OtherSOC 47-5099 · 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 | Northwest Iowa Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Sheldon, IA | $72,286 | Not available | +128% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Pennsylvania College of TechnologyAssociate's Degree | Williamsport, PA | $62,389 | $12,000 | +24% | Positive 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.