Science Technologies/Technicians, Other: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 8 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Positive payoff
+$3,938 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.
This is a positive modeled result. Price, time to finish and future earnings can still change the outcome.
9.6 yrsModeled economic break-even
+4%Modeled 10-year ROI
$56,179Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$56,179Median reported earnings · year 4
$55,950Average reported earnings · year 5
$11,798Median federal debt
67thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
8Reporting programs
7With 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.
CURRENT VIEW
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $56,179
- Federal debt
- $11,798
- Reporting programs
- 8
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $75,425
- Federal debt
- $23,897
- Reporting programs
- 9
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $125,048
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
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$45,439National median$56,17975th percentile$58,808
7 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.
8 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1Pierpont Community and Technical CollegeFairmont, WV · PublicYear-4 earnings$63,423Federal debt$11,798Annual net price$8,3252Frederick Community CollegeFrederick, MD · PublicYear-4 earnings$61,528Federal debt$9,725Annual net price$9,4653Oakland Community CollegeAuburn Hills, MI · PublicYear-4 earnings$58,808Federal debt$12,024Annual net price$5,7774Truckee Meadows Community CollegeReno, NV · PublicYear-4 earnings$56,179Federal debt$10,062Annual net price$8,3125College of Southern NevadaLas Vegas, NV · PublicYear-4 earnings$53,501Federal debt$8,250Annual net price$6,6156Community College of VermontMontpelier, VT · PublicYear-4 earnings$45,439Federal debt$16,300Annual net price$13,6967Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical CollegeMoorefield, WV · PublicYear-4 earnings$39,683Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$8,0958Montgomery County Community CollegeBlue Bell, PA · PublicYear-4 earningsNot availableFederal debt$15,000Annual net price$11,124
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Pierpont Community and Technical College$63,4232Frederick Community College$61,5283Oakland Community College$58,8084Truckee Meadows Community College$56,1795College of Southern Nevada$53,5016Community College of Vermont$45,4397Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College$39,6838Montgomery County Community CollegeNot availableObserved 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.
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthSOC 19-4042 · 1 crosswalk linksGeological Technicians, Except Hydrologic TechniciansSOC 19-4043 · 1 crosswalk linksHydrologic TechniciansSOC 19-4044 · 1 crosswalk linksLife, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherSOC 19-4099 · 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 | Pierpont Community and Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Fairmont, WV | $63,423 | $11,798 | +73% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | Frederick Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Frederick, MD | $61,528 | $9,725 | +52% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | Oakland Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Auburn Hills, MI | $58,808 | $12,024 | +36% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | Truckee Meadows Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Reno, NV | $56,179 | $10,062 | +5% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | College of Southern NevadaAssociate's Degree | Las Vegas, NV | $53,501 | $8,250 | -18% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Community College of VermontAssociate's Degree | Montpelier, VT | $45,439 | $16,300 | -96% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Moorefield, WV | $39,683 | Not available | -150% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Montgomery County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Blue Bell, PA | Not available | $15,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $11,124 |
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.