Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 76 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$142,470 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.
—Modeled economic break-even
−132%Modeled 10-year ROI
$41,527Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$41,527Median reported earnings · year 4
$37,851Average reported earnings · year 5
$18,561Median federal debt
29thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
76Reporting programs
69With 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
- $41,420
- Federal debt
- $14,519
- Reporting programs
- 57
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $41,527
- Federal debt
- $18,561
- Reporting programs
- 76
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $51,435
- Federal debt
- $27,000
- Reporting programs
- 53
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $57,321
- Federal debt
- $23,594
- Reporting programs
- 3
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $59,973
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 216
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $71,374
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 5
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $57,744
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $61,407
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 12
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$37,466National median$41,52775th percentile$43,496
69 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1Lemoore College$71,8962Coalinga College$71,8333Minneapolis Community and Technical College$58,2364Community College of Denver$51,8455CUNY LaGuardia Community College$48,5956CUNY Kingsborough Community College$47,6467Austin Community College District$46,9628Hudson Valley Community College$46,7829Community College of Baltimore County$46,76210Waukesha County Technical College$46,708Observed 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.
Mental Health CounselorsSOC 21-1014 · 5 crosswalk linksMarriage and Family TherapistsSOC 21-1013 · 4 crosswalk linksHealthcare Social WorkersSOC 21-1022 · 3 crosswalk linksCounselors, All OtherSOC 21-1019 · 2 crosswalk linksSubstance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder CounselorsSOC 21-1011 · 2 crosswalk linksChild, Family, and School Social WorkersSOC 21-1021 · 1 crosswalk linksClergySOC 21-2011 · 1 crosswalk linksClinical and Counseling PsychologistsSOC 19-3033 · 1 crosswalk linksCommunity Health WorkersSOC 21-1094 · 1 crosswalk linksDirectors, Religious Activities and EducationSOC 21-2021 · 1 crosswalk linksGenetic CounselorsSOC 29-9092 · 1 crosswalk linksHealth Education SpecialistsSOC 21-1091 · 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 | Lemoore CollegeAssociate's Degree | Lemoore, CA | $71,896 | Not available | +141% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Coalinga CollegeAssociate's Degree | Coalinga, CA | $71,833 | Not available | +142% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | Minneapolis Community and Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $58,236 | $37,062 | +13% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | Community College of DenverAssociate's Degree | Denver, CO | $51,845 | Not available | -37% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | CUNY LaGuardia Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Long Island City, NY | $48,595 | $7,709 | -65% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | CUNY Kingsborough Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $47,646 | $5,939 | -74% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Austin Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | Austin, TX | $46,962 | $19,185 | -81% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Hudson Valley Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Troy, NY | $46,782 | $10,292 | -83% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Community College of Baltimore CountyAssociate's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $46,762 | $26,723 | -84% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Waukesha County Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Pewaukee, WI | $46,708 | $35,927 | -85% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | Oakland Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Auburn Hills, MI | $45,431 | $22,141 | -96% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | SUNY Broome Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Binghamton, NY | $44,950 | $17,500 | -100% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | Northern Essex Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Haverhill, MA | $44,872 | $11,200 | -101% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | NHTI-Concord's Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Concord, NH | $44,558 | $16,874 | -104% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | Palm Beach State CollegeAssociate's Degree | Lake Worth, FL | $44,340 | $15,505 | -106% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | Cuyahoga Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | Cleveland, OH | $44,054 | Not available | -110% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Connecticut State Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | New Britain, CT | $43,496 | Not available | -113% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | CUNY Hostos Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Bronx, NY | $43,443 | $9,000 | -115% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | Columbus State Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Columbus, OH | $42,698 | Not available | -122% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | Brightpoint Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Chester, VA | $42,390 | $17,594 | -126% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Kennebec Valley Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Fairfield, ME | $41,939 | $19,345 | -131% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | Northwood Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Rice Lake, WI | $41,762 | $11,518 | -130% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | Central Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Grand Island, NE | $41,687 | Not available | -132% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | Gateway Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Kenosha, WI | $41,527 | $22,350 | -130% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | Northcentral Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Wausau, WI | $40,958 | $16,759 | -137% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | InterCoast Colleges-West CovinaAssociate's Degree | West Covina, CA | $40,864 | $23,066 | -129% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | Western Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | La Crosse, WI | $40,786 | $17,454 | -138% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | Milwaukee Area Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Milwaukee, WI | $40,550 | $23,799 | -141% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | Indian River State CollegeAssociate's Degree | Fort Pierce, FL | $40,425 | Not available | -147% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | Hillsborough CollegeAssociate's Degree | Tampa, FL | $40,307 | $28,529 | -148% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | Southern State Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Hillsboro, OH | $40,300 | Not available | -143% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | J Sargeant Reynolds Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Richmond, VA | $40,107 | $32,601 | -149% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | Southside Virginia Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Alberta, VA | $40,097 | Not available | -149% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | Tidewater Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Norfolk, VA | $39,788 | $25,000 | -146% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | Spokane Falls Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Spokane, WA | $38,956 | $20,414 | -158% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | Central Piedmont Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Charlotte, NC | $38,741 | Not available | -165% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | Stanly Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Albemarle, NC | $38,083 | Not available | -168% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | Madison Area Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Madison, WI | $37,970 | Not available | -159% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | Ivy Tech Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Indianapolis, IN | $37,839 | $14,133 | -169% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | Delaware Technical Community College-TerryAssociate's Degree | Dover, DE | $37,580 | $7,000 | -166% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | Southeast Community College AreaAssociate's Degree | Lincoln, NE | $37,466 | $22,940 | -170% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | Wake Technical Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Raleigh, NC | $36,257 | Not available | -181% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | Texas State Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Waco, TX | $36,108 | $19,078 | -176% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | Pima Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Tucson, AZ | $35,593 | $5,250 | -197% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | Forsyth Technical Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Winston-Salem, NC | $35,406 | $24,750 | -192% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | Skagit Valley CollegeAssociate's Degree | Mount Vernon, WA | $35,093 | Not available | -197% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | Virginia Peninsula Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Hampton, VA | $35,057 | $25,600 | -196% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | Guilford Technical Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Jamestown, NC | $34,502 | $31,000 | -187% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | Blue Ridge Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Weyers Cave, VA | $34,176 | Not available | -192% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | Lackawanna CollegeAssociate's Degree | Scranton, PA | $33,897 | $26,271 | -185% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | Pitt Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Winterville, NC | $32,468 | $36,141 | -220% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | Virginia Highlands Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Abingdon, VA | $32,007 | Not available | -229% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | BridgeValley Community & Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | South Charleston, WV | $31,592 | Not available | -235% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | Baltimore City Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $30,553 | $13,482 | -218% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | University of Alaska AnchorageAssociate's Degree | Anchorage, AK | $30,278 | $16,011 | -222% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | Pasco-Hernando State CollegeAssociate's Degree | New Port Richey, FL | $29,286 | $12,136 | -257% | Negative payoff |
| 57 | Virginia Western Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Roanoke, VA | $28,573 | $16,066 | -264% | Negative payoff |
| 58 | Mississippi Gulf Coast Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Perkinston, MS | $27,230 | Not available | -271% | Negative payoff |
| 59 | Mott Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Flint, MI | Not available | $35,229 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $5,687 |
| 60 | Erie Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Buffalo, NY | Not available | $11,898 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $7,765 |
| 61 | Onondaga Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Syracuse, NY | Not available | $14,924 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $8,562 |
| 62 | Sinclair Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Dayton, OH | Not available | $18,043 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $5,992 |
| 63 | Montgomery County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Blue Bell, PA | Not available | $15,824 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $11,124 |
| 64 | Dallas CollegeAssociate's Degree | Dallas, TX | Not available | $23,530 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $3,214 |
| 65 | Ameritas CollegeAssociate's Degree | Huntington, WV | Not available | $25,346 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $9,422 |
| 66 | Asnuntuck Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | , | $43,496 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 67 | Connecticut State Community College HousatonicAssociate's Degree | , | $43,496 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 68 | Manchester Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | , | $43,496 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 69 | Naugatuck Valley Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | , | $43,496 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 70 | Middlesex Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | , | $43,496 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 71 | Three Rivers Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | , | $43,496 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 72 | Connecticut State Community College NorwalkAssociate's Degree | , | $43,496 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 73 | Northwestern Connecticut Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | , | $43,496 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 74 | Quinebaug Valley Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | , | $43,496 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 75 | Connecticut State Community College GatewayAssociate's Degree | , | $43,496 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 76 | Connecticut State Community College TunxisAssociate's Degree | , | $43,496 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
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.