Library and Archives Assisting: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 1 reporting college programs.
10-year estimate · Negative payoff
−$212,496 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.
With these assumptions, the added earnings do not recover the cost within ten years.
—Modeled economic break-even
−203%Modeled 10-year ROI
$34,202Observed earnings · year 4
Not reachedMaximum annual price for positive 10-year payoff
PRICE 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−$197,980
$7,000Current college-wide context−$211,980
$8,000Current college-wide context−$213,980
$16,000Annual price−$229,980
$24,000Annual price−$245,980
$32,000Annual price−$261,980
$40,000Annual price−$277,980
Observed national outcomes
$34,202Median reported earnings · year 4
$26,675Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
8thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
Not availableIPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
1With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 0 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
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$34,202National median$34,20275th percentile$34,202
1 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.
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.
1 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Ivy Tech Community College$34,202Observed 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.
Library Technicians$44,580 median wage68,690 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-4031-6.4% projected employment, 2025–35 · 10.8k annual openingsTypical entry education: Postsecondary nondegree award$29,300–$63,080 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 | Ivy Tech Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Indianapolis, IN | $34,202 | Not available | -203% | Negative 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.