Security Science and Technology: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 9 reporting college programs.
−$149,522 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.
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $64,856
- Federal debt
- $29,333
- Reporting programs
- 5
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $41,327
- Federal debt
- $12,000
- Reporting programs
- 9
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $57,447
- Federal debt
- $25,432
- Reporting programs
- 49
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- Not available
- Federal debt
- $27,000
- Reporting programs
- 1
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $86,344
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 35
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.
1Rose State College$67,7802College of Southern Nevada$63,7303Palm Beach State College$51,2154Miami Dade College$41,3275Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale$40,3746ICPR Junior College-Arecibo$20,2417ICPR Junior College$20,2418Herkimer County Community CollegeNot available9Fox Valley Technical 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.
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 | Rose State CollegeAssociate's Degree | Midwest City, OK | $67,780 | $10,286 | +99% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | College of Southern NevadaAssociate's Degree | Las Vegas, NV | $63,730 | $11,000 | +81% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | Palm Beach State CollegeAssociate's Degree | Lake Worth, FL | $51,215 | Not available | -43% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | Miami Dade CollegeAssociate's Degree | Miami, FL | $41,327 | Not available | -136% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | Keiser University-Ft LauderdaleAssociate's Degree | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $40,374 | $23,500 | -131% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | ICPR Junior College-AreciboAssociate's Degree | Arecibo, PR | $20,241 | Not available | -339% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | ICPR Junior CollegeAssociate's Degree | Hato Rey, PR | $20,241 | Not available | -338% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Herkimer County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Herkimer, NY | Not available | $12,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $13,419 |
| 9 | Fox Valley Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Appleton, WI | Not available | $17,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $11,407 |
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.