Physical Sciences, General: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 24 reporting college programs.
−$54,077 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.
Observed national outcomes
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.
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.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Green River College$77,4772Clark College$76,8893Middlesex College$67,9444Rockland Community College$62,1425Western Nevada College$61,5756Diablo Valley College$59,7237College of Staten Island CUNY$59,2438Jackson College$54,7349CUNY Medgar Evers College$50,87110University of New Mexico-Gallup Campus$50,266Observed 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.
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 | Green River CollegeAssociate's Degree | Auburn, WA | $77,477 | Not available | +176% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Clark CollegeAssociate's Degree | Vancouver, WA | $76,889 | Not available | +182% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | Middlesex CollegeAssociate's Degree | Edison, NJ | $67,944 | $7,250 | +143% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | Rockland Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Suffern, NY | $62,142 | $7,930 | +52% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | Western Nevada CollegeAssociate's Degree | Carson City, NV | $61,575 | Not available | +44% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | Diablo Valley CollegeAssociate's Degree | Pleasant Hill, CA | $59,723 | Not available | +38% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | College of Staten Island CUNYAssociate's Degree | Staten Island, NY | $59,243 | Not available | +41% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | Jackson CollegeAssociate's Degree | Jackson, MI | $54,734 | Not available | -8% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | CUNY Medgar Evers CollegeAssociate's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $50,871 | $8,875 | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | University of New Mexico-Gallup CampusAssociate's Degree | Gallup, NM | $50,266 | Not available | -47% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | University of New Mexico-Los Alamos CampusAssociate's Degree | Los Alamos, NM | $50,266 | Not available | -55% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | University of New Mexico-Main CampusAssociate's Degree | Albuquerque, NM | $50,266 | Not available | -56% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | University of New Mexico-Valencia County CampusAssociate's Degree | Los Lunas, NM | $50,266 | Not available | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | University of New Mexico-Taos CampusAssociate's Degree | Ranchos de Taos, NM | $50,266 | Not available | -51% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | CUNY LaGuardia Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Long Island City, NY | $47,741 | $7,500 | -73% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | CUNY New York City College of TechnologyAssociate's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $47,221 | $8,750 | -78% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Scottsdale Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Scottsdale, AZ | $45,882 | Not available | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | CUNY Queensborough Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Bayside, NY | $43,018 | Not available | -120% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | Richard Bland CollegeAssociate's Degree | South Prince George, VA | $41,042 | $12,000 | -134% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | North Central Michigan CollegeAssociate's Degree | Petoskey, MI | $40,596 | Not available | -140% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | New York, NY | $40,438 | $9,000 | -146% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | Tulsa Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Tulsa, OK | $38,358 | $10,750 | -165% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | CUNY Bronx Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Bronx, NY | $34,499 | Not available | -206% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | CUNY Hostos Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Bronx, NY | $32,772 | Not available | -222% | 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.