Physical Sciences, Other: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 1 reporting college programs.
ROI withheld
Not available in median year-4 earnings
The price-proxy scenario falls outside DegreeVerdict’s reliability guardrails, so no percentage is published.
Not availableMedian year-4 earnings
$11,676Average institution net-price context
$17,500Median federal debt
Four useful answers about Physical Sciences, Other
How much do Physical Sciences, Other associate's degree graduates earn?
The current federal release does not provide a reportable national earnings median for this degree.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
The median reported federal debt is $17,500. The figure excludes private loans and does not describe every graduate.
Does the college matter for Physical Sciences, Other?
Outcomes can differ by college, but the current reporting cohort is not large enough to publish a reliable middle-half range.
What careers are related to Physical Sciences, Other?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 3 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.
Observed national outcomes
Not availableMedian reported earnings · year 4
Not availableAverage reported earnings · year 5
$17,500Median federal debt
1thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
Not availableIPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
0With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 0 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
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
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- Not available
- Federal debt
- $17,500
- Reporting programs
- 1
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $71,805
- Federal debt
- $24,000
- Reporting programs
- 4
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $80,494
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
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.
1Empire State UniversityNot availableObserved 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.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →12%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Natural Sciences Managers$167,220 median wage108,690 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-9121+8.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 9.2k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$79,710–$316,850 10th–90th percentilePhysical Scientists, All Other$122,570 median wage22,300 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-2099+2.1% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1.4k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$67,000–$195,190 10th–90th percentilePostsecondary Teachers, All Other$77,640 median wage149,840 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1199+2.0% projected employment, 2025–35 · 12.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$44,300–$160,700 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 | Empire State UniversityAssociate's Degree | Saratoga Springs, NY | Not available | $17,500 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $11,676 |
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.