Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 3 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$30,754 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.
13.1 yrsModeled economic break-even
−24%Modeled 10-year ROI
$54,989Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$54,989Median reported earnings · year 4
$67,250Average reported earnings · year 5
$13,214Median federal debt
64thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
3Reporting programs
3With 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.
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$53,563National median$54,98975th percentile$54,989
3 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.
3 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1Ivy Tech Community CollegeIndianapolis, IN · PublicYear-4 earnings$93,701Federal debt$7,427Annual net price$7,2582New England Institute of TechnologyEast Greenwich, RI · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$54,989Federal debt$19,000Annual net price$36,4833SUNY College of Technology at DelhiDelhi, NY · PublicYear-4 earnings$53,563Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$17,225
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Ivy Tech Community College$93,7012New England Institute of Technology$54,9893SUNY College of Technology at Delhi$53,563Observed 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.
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersSOC 47-1011 · 4 crosswalk linksPlumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersSOC 47-2152 · 3 crosswalk linksExplosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and BlastersSOC 47-5032 · 2 crosswalk linksDerrick Operators, Oil and GasSOC 47-5011 · 1 crosswalk linksEarth Drillers, Except Oil and GasSOC 47-5023 · 1 crosswalk linksRotary Drill Operators, Oil and GasSOC 47-5012 · 1 crosswalk linksSeptic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe CleanersSOC 47-4071 · 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 | Ivy Tech Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Indianapolis, IN | $93,701 | $7,427 | +366% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | New England Institute of TechnologyAssociate's Degree | East Greenwich, RI | $54,989 | $19,000 | -39% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | SUNY College of Technology at DelhiAssociate's Degree | Delhi, NY | $53,563 | Not available | -31% | 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.