Science Technologies/Technicians, Other: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 9 reporting college programs.
10-year estimate · Positive payoff
+$57,822 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
The estimate clears the cost within ten years, though your price and time to finish may change the result.
8.1 yrsModeled economic break-even
+23%Modeled 10-year ROI
$75,425Observed earnings · year 4
$31,063Maximum annual price for positive 10-year payoff
The price benchmark is $14,456 per year below this threshold.
Includes direct price and earnings forgone while studying. Assumes $45,000 in alternative annual earnings and no wage growth. How we calculate itObserved national outcomes
$75,425Median reported earnings · year 4
$69,841Average reported earnings · year 5
$23,897Median federal debt
69thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
Not availableIPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
9With 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.
OPEN PROFILE
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$72,277National median$75,42575th percentile$76,495
9 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.
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 3 programs →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.
9 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of Alaska Anchorage$90,0462North Carolina State University at Raleigh$89,8263Arizona State University Campus Immersion$76,4954Arizona State University Digital Immersion$76,4955Campbell University$75,4256University of Wisconsin-Stout$74,6977Kean University$72,2778University of Arizona$58,0759Northern Arizona University$54,507Observed 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.
Hydrologic Technicians$64,790 median wage2,840 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-4044-1.3% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.4k annual openingsTypical entry education: Associate's degree$44,950–$100,480 10th–90th percentileLife, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$62,280 median wage73,910 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-4099+4.4% projected employment, 2025–35 · 11.2k annual openingsTypical entry education: Associate's degree$39,000–$102,690 10th–90th percentileEnvironmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health$55,090 median wage34,670 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-4042+6.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 5.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Associate's degree$38,170–$94,160 10th–90th percentileGeological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians$53,350 median wage6,980 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-4043+3.6% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1k annual openingsTypical entry education: Associate's degree$35,770–$99,560 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 | University of Alaska AnchorageBachelor's Degree | Anchorage, AK | $90,046 | Not available | +87% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | North Carolina State University at RaleighBachelor's Degree | Raleigh, NC | $89,826 | $21,221 | +80% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $76,495 | $28,312 | +31% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | Arizona State University Digital ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Scottsdale, AZ | $76,495 | $28,312 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 5 | Campbell UniversityBachelor's Degree | Buies Creek, NC | $75,425 | $20,250 | +9% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | University of Wisconsin-StoutBachelor's Degree | Menomonie, WI | $74,697 | $27,000 | +19% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | Kean UniversityBachelor's Degree | Union, NJ | $72,277 | $22,636 | +19% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | University of ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Tucson, AZ | $58,075 | $24,875 | -47% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Northern Arizona UniversityBachelor's Degree | Flagstaff, AZ | $54,507 | $22,918 | -60% | 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.