Mathematics: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 13 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Positive payoff
+$58,959 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.
This is a positive modeled result. Price, time to finish and future earnings can still change the outcome.
6.4 yrsModeled economic break-even
+55%Modeled 10-year ROI
$61,557Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$61,557Median reported earnings · year 4
$52,973Average reported earnings · year 5
$14,622Median federal debt
75thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
13Reporting programs
13With 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
- $84,699
- Federal debt
- $27,000
- Reporting programs
- 2
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $61,557
- Federal debt
- $14,622
- Reporting programs
- 13
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $70,257
- Federal debt
- $21,589
- Reporting programs
- 331
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $70,298
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 11
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $75,361
- 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.
Median
25th percentile$43,803National median$61,55775th percentile$73,088
13 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.
13 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1Weber State UniversityOgden, UT · PublicYear-4 earnings$81,270Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$10,2582Austin Community College DistrictAustin, TX · PublicYear-4 earnings$74,891Federal debt$15,125Annual net price$6,3903San Diego Miramar CollegeSan Diego, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$74,221Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$3,3374College of the CanyonsSanta Clarita, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$73,088Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$3,7025Santa Ana CollegeSanta Ana, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$66,282Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$3,1336San Diego Mesa CollegeSan Diego, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$62,616Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$5,8147Coalinga CollegeCoalinga, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$61,557Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$10,4778San Jacinto Community CollegePasadena, TX · PublicYear-4 earnings$59,360Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$12,1439Lemoore CollegeLemoore, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$54,006Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$10,83210CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community CollegeNew York, NY · PublicYear-4 earnings$43,803Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$4,97611Rowan College of South Jersey-Cumberland CampusVineland, NJ · PublicYear-4 earnings$43,325Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$10,56212Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester CampusSewell, NJ · PublicYear-4 earnings$43,325Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$12,37813Community College of Allegheny CountyPittsburgh, PA · PublicYear-4 earnings$37,714Federal debt$14,118Annual net price$13,970
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Weber State University$81,2702Austin Community College District$74,8913San Diego Miramar College$74,2214College of the Canyons$73,0885Santa Ana College$66,2826San Diego Mesa College$62,6167Coalinga College$61,5578San Jacinto Community College$59,3609Lemoore College$54,00610CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College$43,803Observed 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.
Mathematical Science Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1022 · 6 crosswalk linksMathematiciansSOC 15-2021 · 6 crosswalk linksNatural Sciences ManagersSOC 11-9121 · 6 crosswalk linksData ScientistsSOC 15-2051 · 1 crosswalk linksMathematical Science Occupations, All OtherSOC 15-2099 · 1 crosswalk linksSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationSOC 25-2031 · 1 crosswalk linksStatisticiansSOC 15-2041 · 1 crosswalk links
Where this degree has enough data to compare
State pages are published only when at least five operating colleges report year-4 earnings for this exact field and credential.
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 | Weber State UniversityAssociate's Degree | Ogden, UT | $81,270 | Not available | +228% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Austin Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | Austin, TX | $74,891 | $15,125 | +191% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | San Diego Miramar CollegeAssociate's Degree | San Diego, CA | $74,221 | Not available | +202% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | College of the CanyonsAssociate's Degree | Santa Clarita, CA | $73,088 | Not available | +188% | Strong payoff |
| 5 | Santa Ana CollegeAssociate's Degree | Santa Ana, CA | $66,282 | Not available | +121% | Strong payoff |
| 6 | San Diego Mesa CollegeAssociate's Degree | San Diego, CA | $62,616 | Not available | +73% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | Coalinga CollegeAssociate's Degree | Coalinga, CA | $61,557 | Not available | +49% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | San Jacinto Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Pasadena, TX | $59,360 | Not available | +26% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | Lemoore CollegeAssociate's Degree | Lemoore, CA | $54,006 | Not available | -19% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | New York, NY | $43,803 | Not available | -112% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | Rowan College of South Jersey-Cumberland CampusAssociate's Degree | Vineland, NJ | $43,325 | Not available | -115% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester CampusAssociate's Degree | Sewell, NJ | $43,325 | Not available | -115% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | Community College of Allegheny CountyAssociate's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $37,714 | $14,118 | -162% | 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.