Health/Medical Preparatory Programs: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 29 reporting college programs.
−$40,874 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
- $57,743
- Federal debt
- $15,962
- Reporting programs
- 11
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $51,601
- Federal debt
- $13,997
- Reporting programs
- 29
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $62,585
- Federal debt
- $25,000
- Reporting programs
- 59
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $49,699
- Federal debt
- $25,567
- Reporting programs
- 5
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $68,501
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $135,372
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $72,581
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $94,327
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
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.
1University of Alaska Anchorage$90,5012Connors State College$80,1323Wharton County Junior College$77,3554Rose State College$73,5485Skyline College$67,8056Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College$62,1407Mount Saint Mary's University$59,8028Northwest Vista College$59,3389Gavilan College$58,34410Atlantic Cape Community College$56,722Observed 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 | University of Alaska AnchorageAssociate's Degree | Anchorage, AK | $90,501 | $21,961 | +277% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Connors State CollegeAssociate's Degree | Warner, OK | $80,132 | Not available | +218% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | Wharton County Junior CollegeAssociate's Degree | Wharton, TX | $77,355 | Not available | +226% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | Rose State CollegeAssociate's Degree | Midwest City, OK | $73,548 | $14,236 | +150% | Strong payoff |
| 5 | Skyline CollegeAssociate's Degree | San Bruno, CA | $67,805 | Not available | +144% | Strong payoff |
| 6 | Northeastern Oklahoma A&M CollegeAssociate's Degree | Miami, OK | $62,140 | $20,500 | +53% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | Mount Saint Mary's UniversityAssociate's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $59,802 | $15,875 | +11% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | Northwest Vista CollegeAssociate's Degree | San Antonio, TX | $59,338 | Not available | +45% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | Gavilan CollegeAssociate's Degree | Gilroy, CA | $58,344 | Not available | +29% | Positive payoff |
| 10 | Atlantic Cape Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Mays Landing, NJ | $56,722 | $9,867 | +10% | Positive payoff |
| 11 | Austin Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | Austin, TX | $55,373 | $14,949 | +1% | Positive payoff |
| 12 | Diablo Valley CollegeAssociate's Degree | Pleasant Hill, CA | $54,934 | $12,312 | -7% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | Tulsa Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Tulsa, OK | $52,465 | $18,744 | -27% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | Northern Oklahoma CollegeAssociate's Degree | Tonkawa, OK | $51,679 | $8,833 | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | Arkansas State University-BeebeAssociate's Degree | Beebe, AR | $51,522 | $6,625 | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | Northeast Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Norfolk, NE | $50,127 | $14,068 | -52% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Howard CollegeAssociate's Degree | Big Spring, TX | $49,287 | $14,650 | -58% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | Prairie State CollegeAssociate's Degree | Chicago Heights, IL | $48,709 | $16,154 | -63% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | Northwest Mississippi Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Senatobia, MS | $48,468 | Not available | -67% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | Hill CollegeAssociate's Degree | Hillsboro, TX | $47,531 | $13,925 | -76% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Essex County CollegeAssociate's Degree | Newark, NJ | $46,812 | $9,499 | -82% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | Georgia Military CollegeAssociate's Degree | Milledgeville, GA | $46,551 | $13,149 | -87% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | Garden City Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Garden City, KS | $43,994 | Not available | -109% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | Three Rivers CollegeAssociate's Degree | Poplar Bluff, MO | $40,141 | $11,000 | -145% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | Mt Hood Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Gresham, OR | $39,432 | Not available | -153% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | Holmes Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Goodman, MS | $37,416 | $11,000 | -175% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | Mississippi Gulf Coast Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Perkinston, MS | $32,296 | $6,528 | -222% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | Coahoma Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Clarksdale, MS | $30,484 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 29 | Ferris State UniversityAssociate's Degree | Big Rapids, MI | Not available | $18,495 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $8,624 |
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.