Physical Science Technologies/Technicians: is this undergraduate certificate or diploma worth it?

National picture across 3 reporting college programs.

Personal baseline needed

$69,543 in median year-4 earnings

A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.

$69,543Median year-4 earnings

$6,327Average institution net-price context

$11,756Median federal debt

Use your actual price and alternative earnings before evaluating return. Model your own starting point →

WHAT THIS DEGREE PAYS

Observed national outcomes

$69,543Median reported earnings · year 4

$57,703Average reported earnings · year 5

$11,756Median federal debt

83thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential

3Reporting programs

3With year-4 earnings

COMPARE CREDENTIAL LEVELS

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.

CURRENT VIEW

Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma

Year-4 earnings: $69,543
Federal debt: $11,756
Reporting programs: 3

3 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Associate's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $91,557
Federal debt: $11,417
Reporting programs: 16

16 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)

Year-4 earnings: $69,253
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 1

1 report earnings →

COLLEGE-TO-COLLEGE RANGE

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$56,443National median$69,54375th percentile$69,543

3 programs report year‑4 earnings.

WHERE OUTCOMES ARE STRONGEST

See the spread, not just the national number.

1Alvin Community College$75,005 2Florida State College at Jacksonville$69,543 3Washington County Career Center-Adult Technical Training$56,443

Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking

WHERE THIS FIELD CAN LEAD

Related occupations

Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.

Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersSOC 51-9011 · 2 crosswalk linksChemical Plant and System OperatorsSOC 51-8091 · 2 crosswalk linksChemical TechniciansSOC 19-4031 · 2 crosswalk linksGeological Technicians, Except Hydrologic TechniciansSOC 19-4043 · 2 crosswalk linksLife, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherSOC 19-4099 · 2 crosswalk linksEnvironmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthSOC 19-4042 · 1 crosswalk linksHydrologic TechniciansSOC 19-4044 · 1 crosswalk links

BEST COLLEGES FOR PHYSICAL SCIENCE TECHNOLOGIES/TECHNICIANS

Same degree, different outcomes

Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.

#	College	Location	Earnings, year 4	Federal debt	ROI status	Cost context
1	Alvin Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Alvin, TX	$75,005	$7,762	Baseline needed	$8,525
2	Florida State College at JacksonvilleUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Jacksonville, FL	$69,543	$15,750	Baseline needed	$4,128
3	Washington County Career Center-Adult Technical TrainingUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Marietta, OH	$56,443	Not available	Baseline needed	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.