Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 8 reporting college programs.
10-year estimate · Positive payoff
+$130,258 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
The estimate clears the cost within ten years, though your price and time to finish may change the result.
6.7 yrsModeled economic break-even
+49%Modeled 10-year ROI
$84,342Observed earnings · year 4
$53,355Maximum annual price for positive 10-year payoff
The price benchmark is $32,564 per year below this threshold.
Includes direct price and earnings forgone while studying. Assumes $45,000 in alternative annual earnings and no wage growth. How we calculate itPRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price+$213,420
$16,000Annual price+$149,420
$21,000Current college-wide context+$129,420
$32,000Annual price+$85,420
$48,000Annual price+$21,420
$64,000Annual price−$42,580
$80,000Annual price−$106,580
Observed national outcomes
$84,342Median reported earnings · year 4
$75,953Average reported earnings · year 5
$24,939Median federal debt
81thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
136IPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
5With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 3 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
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $75,493
- Federal debt
- $16,642
- Reporting programs
- 1
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $84,342
- Federal debt
- $24,939
- Reporting programs
- 8
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $108,967
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 6
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $106,577
- 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$78,068National median$84,34275th percentile$85,184
5 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.
PRICE × EARNINGS MAP
Where colleges sit for this exact degree
Move left for a lower annual college-wide net price and up for higher observed year-4 earnings.
$85,184Observed year-4 earnings$56,863
Mercyhurst University$19,444 price · $86,597 earningsNorwich University$22,257 price · $85,184 earningsMaryville University of Saint Louis$22,066 price · $84,342 earningsUniversity of Advancing Technology$28,522 price · $78,068 earningsCoastal Carolina University$13,966 price · $56,863 earnings
$13,966Annual college-wide average net price$22,257
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 3 programs →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
8 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Mercyhurst University$86,5972Norwich University$85,1843Maryville University of Saint Louis$84,3424University of Advancing Technology$78,0685Coastal Carolina University$56,8636Excelsior UniversityNot available7York College of PennsylvaniaNot available8Citadel Military College of South CarolinaNot availableObserved year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →12%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Command and Control Center OfficersUnreported U.S. jobs · SOC 55-1015Command and Control Center SpecialistsUnreported U.S. jobs · SOC 55-3015Special ForcesUnreported U.S. jobs · SOC 55-3018Special Forces OfficersUnreported U.S. jobs · SOC 55-1017First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$106,040 median wage154,610 U.S. jobs · SOC 33-1012+3.3% projected employment, 2025–35 · 10.6k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$63,350–$165,110 10th–90th percentileDetectives and Criminal Investigators$93,790 median wage114,430 U.S. jobs · SOC 33-3021+0.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 7.8k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$55,390–$160,540 10th–90th percentileCartographers and Photogrammetrists$81,390 median wage14,260 U.S. jobs · SOC 17-1021+7.4% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$53,740–$126,950 10th–90th percentile
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
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 | Mercyhurst UniversityBachelor's Degree | Erie, PA | $86,597 | $25,625 | +61% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | Norwich UniversityBachelor's Degree | Northfield, VT | $85,184 | $8,333 | +49% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | Maryville University of Saint LouisBachelor's Degree | Saint Louis, MO | $84,342 | $22,250 | +47% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | University of Advancing TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $78,068 | $31,000 | +12% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | Coastal Carolina UniversityBachelor's Degree | Conway, SC | $56,863 | $24,878 | -50% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Excelsior UniversityBachelor's Degree | Albany, NY | Not available | $10,528 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 7 | York College of PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | York, PA | Not available | $25,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $18,556 |
| 8 | Citadel Military College of South CarolinaBachelor's Degree | Charleston, SC | Not available | $26,499 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $20,723 |
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.