Journalism: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 3 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$68,157 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.
29.5 yrsModeled economic break-even
−66%Modeled 10-year ROI
$48,497Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$48,497Median reported earnings · year 4
$34,651Average reported earnings · year 5
$8,250Median federal debt
50thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
3Reporting programs
2With 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
- $63,138
- Federal debt
- $20,500
- Reporting programs
- 2
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $48,497
- Federal debt
- $8,250
- Reporting programs
- 3
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $54,396
- Federal debt
- $24,250
- Reporting programs
- 196
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $72,760
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 22
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $63,479
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $58,146
- 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$45,638National median$48,49775th percentile$45,638
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.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Austin Community College District$51,3562Onondaga Community College$45,6383Oklahoma City Community CollegeNot 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.
News Analysts, Reporters, and JournalistsSOC 27-3023 · 7 crosswalk linksCommunications Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1122 · 6 crosswalk linksEditorsSOC 27-3041 · 2 crosswalk linksWriters and AuthorsSOC 27-3043 · 2 crosswalk linksBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc JockeysSOC 27-3011 · 1 crosswalk linksFilm and Video EditorsSOC 27-4032 · 1 crosswalk linksPhotographersSOC 27-4021 · 1 crosswalk linksProofreaders and Copy MarkersSOC 43-9081 · 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 | $51,356 | $8,007 | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 2 | Onondaga Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Syracuse, NY | $45,638 | $10,125 | -94% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | Oklahoma City Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Oklahoma City, OK | Not available | $8,250 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $4,739 |
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.