History: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 6 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$101,480 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.
312.5 yrsModeled economic break-even
−97%Modeled 10-year ROI
$45,336Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$45,336Median reported earnings · year 4
$63,008Average reported earnings · year 5
$15,230Median federal debt
42thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
6Reporting programs
4With year-4 earnings
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
- Not available
- Federal debt
- $24,637
- Reporting programs
- 1
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $45,336
- Federal debt
- $15,230
- Reporting programs
- 6
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $50,592
- Federal debt
- $24,000
- Reporting programs
- 506
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- Not available
- Federal debt
- $22,125
- Reporting programs
- 1
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $56,361
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 36
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $76,907
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 6
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $61,512
- 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$32,363National median$45,33675th percentile$49,234
4 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.
6 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1Austin Community College DistrictAustin, TX · PublicYear-4 earnings$50,008Federal debt$15,230Annual net price$6,3902College of the DesertPalm Desert, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$49,234Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$15,7283Modesto Junior CollegeModesto, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$41,437Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$2,8184South Texas CollegeMcAllen, TX · PublicYear-4 earnings$32,363Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$1,7515Brigham Young University-IdahoRexburg, ID · Private nonprofitYear-4 earningsNot availableFederal debt$8,750Annual net price$8,2216American Public University SystemCharles Town, WV · Private for-profitYear-4 earningsNot availableFederal debt$19,737Annual net price$9,597
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Austin Community College District$50,0082College of the Desert$49,2343Modesto Junior College$41,4374South Texas College$32,3635Brigham Young University-IdahoNot available6American Public University SystemNot availableObserved 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.
HistoriansSOC 19-3093 · 9 crosswalk linksHistory Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1125 · 9 crosswalk linksManagers, All OtherSOC 11-9199 · 9 crosswalk linksSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationSOC 25-2031 · 2 crosswalk linksArchivistsSOC 25-4011 · 1 crosswalk linksCuratorsSOC 25-4012 · 1 crosswalk linksMuseum Technicians and ConservatorsSOC 25-4013 · 1 crosswalk linksNatural Sciences ManagersSOC 11-9121 · 1 crosswalk linksTour Guides and EscortsSOC 39-7011 · 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 | Austin Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | Austin, TX | $50,008 | $15,230 | -51% | Negative payoff |
| 2 | College of the DesertAssociate's Degree | Palm Desert, CA | $49,234 | Not available | -65% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | Modesto Junior CollegeAssociate's Degree | Modesto, CA | $41,437 | Not available | -137% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | South Texas CollegeAssociate's Degree | McAllen, TX | $32,363 | Not available | -235% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | Brigham Young University-IdahoAssociate's Degree | Rexburg, ID | Not available | $8,750 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $8,221 |
| 6 | American Public University SystemAssociate's Degree | Charles Town, WV | Not available | $19,737 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $9,597 |
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.