Social Sciences, General: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 38 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$113,654 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.
—Modeled economic break-even
−107%Modeled 10-year ROI
$44,267Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$44,267Median reported earnings · year 4
$41,093Average reported earnings · year 5
$9,314Median federal debt
38thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
Not availableIPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
38With 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
- $44,267
- Federal debt
- $9,314
- Reporting programs
- 38
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $52,095
- Federal debt
- $25,805
- Reporting programs
- 95
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $57,722
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 9
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$41,246National median$44,26775th percentile$47,624
38 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.
38 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1Ohlone CollegeFremont, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$58,928Federal debt$5,500Annual net price$11,1302City College of San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$56,257Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$6,9063Roxbury Community CollegeRoxbury Crossing, MA · PublicYear-4 earnings$55,329Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$12,2444College of San MateoSan Mateo, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$52,619Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$5365De Anza CollegeCupertino, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$51,460Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$6,6426Woodland Community CollegeWoodland, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$51,051Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$8,3567Merritt CollegeOakland, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$50,001Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$14,0218Pasadena City CollegePasadena, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$48,709Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$3,8649Northern Virginia Community CollegeAnnandale, VA · PublicYear-4 earnings$48,344Federal debt$10,500Annual net price$9,91910American River CollegeSacramento, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$47,731Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$7,99911East Los Angeles CollegeMonterey Park, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$47,624Federal debt$5,500Annual net price$10,85212Santa Rosa Junior CollegeSanta Rosa, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$46,768Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$6,33113Harrisburg Area Community CollegeHarrisburg, PA · PublicYear-4 earnings$46,654Federal debt$23,500Annual net price$14,47114San Diego Miramar CollegeSan Diego, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$46,564Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$3,33715Arizona Western CollegeYuma, AZ · PublicYear-4 earnings$45,617Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$8,98316Sierra CollegeRocklin, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$45,195Federal debt$7,834Annual net price$7,24517Crafton Hills CollegeYucaipa, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$44,769Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$11,33118J Sargeant Reynolds Community CollegeRichmond, VA · PublicYear-4 earnings$44,435Federal debt$12,500Annual net price$5,16819Brookdale Community CollegeLincroft, NJ · PublicYear-4 earnings$44,277Federal debt$9,500Annual net price$11,23120Mt San Antonio CollegeWalnut, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$44,256Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$6,49021Essex County CollegeNewark, NJ · PublicYear-4 earnings$44,106Federal debt$5,851Annual net price$4,43622Yuba CollegeMarysville, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$43,965Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$2,57623Massasoit Community CollegeBrockton, MA · PublicYear-4 earnings$43,185Federal debt$8,825Annual net price$8,46024Virginia Peninsula Community CollegeHampton, VA · PublicYear-4 earnings$42,697Federal debt$10,500Annual net price$7,01225Los Angeles Valley CollegeValley Glen, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$42,610Federal debt$10,750Annual net price$12,152
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Ohlone College$58,9282City College of San Francisco$56,2573Roxbury Community College$55,3294College of San Mateo$52,6195De Anza College$51,4606Woodland Community College$51,0517Merritt College$50,0018Pasadena City College$48,7099Northern Virginia Community College$48,34410American River College$47,731Observed 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.
Managers, All OtherSOC 11-9199 · 4 crosswalk linksSocial Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All OtherSOC 25-1069 · 4 crosswalk linksSocial Scientists and Related Workers, All OtherSOC 19-3099 · 4 crosswalk linksSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationSOC 25-2031 · 2 crosswalk linksSocial Science Research AssistantsSOC 19-4061 · 2 crosswalk linksSociologistsSOC 19-3041 · 2 crosswalk linksStatisticiansSOC 15-2041 · 2 crosswalk linksElementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationSOC 25-2021 · 1 crosswalk linksMiddle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationSOC 25-2022 · 1 crosswalk linksSociology Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1067 · 1 crosswalk linksSurvey ResearchersSOC 19-3022 · 1 crosswalk links
Where this degree has enough data to compare
State pages are published only when at least five operating colleges report year-4 earnings for this exact field and credential.
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 | Ohlone CollegeAssociate's Degree | Fremont, CA | $58,928 | $5,500 | +24% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | City College of San FranciscoAssociate's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $56,257 | Not available | +8% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | Roxbury Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Roxbury Crossing, MA | $55,329 | Not available | -10% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | College of San MateoAssociate's Degree | San Mateo, CA | $52,619 | Not available | -16% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | De Anza CollegeAssociate's Degree | Cupertino, CA | $51,460 | Not available | -37% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Woodland Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Woodland, CA | $51,051 | Not available | -43% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Merritt CollegeAssociate's Degree | Oakland, CA | $50,001 | Not available | -58% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Pasadena City CollegeAssociate's Degree | Pasadena, CA | $48,709 | Not available | -62% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Northern Virginia Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Annandale, VA | $48,344 | $10,500 | -70% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | American River CollegeAssociate's Degree | Sacramento, CA | $47,731 | Not available | -74% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | East Los Angeles CollegeAssociate's Degree | Monterey Park, CA | $47,624 | $5,500 | -77% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Santa Rosa Junior CollegeAssociate's Degree | Santa Rosa, CA | $46,768 | Not available | -83% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | Harrisburg Area Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Harrisburg, PA | $46,654 | $23,500 | -86% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | San Diego Miramar CollegeAssociate's Degree | San Diego, CA | $46,564 | Not available | -84% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | Arizona Western CollegeAssociate's Degree | Yuma, AZ | $45,617 | Not available | -94% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | Sierra CollegeAssociate's Degree | Rocklin, CA | $45,195 | $7,834 | -98% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Crafton Hills CollegeAssociate's Degree | Yucaipa, CA | $44,769 | Not available | -102% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | J Sargeant Reynolds Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Richmond, VA | $44,435 | $12,500 | -106% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | Brookdale Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Lincroft, NJ | $44,277 | $9,500 | -106% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | Mt San Antonio CollegeAssociate's Degree | Walnut, CA | $44,256 | Not available | -107% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Essex County CollegeAssociate's Degree | Newark, NJ | $44,106 | $5,851 | -109% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | Yuba CollegeAssociate's Degree | Marysville, CA | $43,965 | Not available | -111% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | Massasoit Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Brockton, MA | $43,185 | $8,825 | -117% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | Virginia Peninsula Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Hampton, VA | $42,697 | $10,500 | -122% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | Los Angeles Valley CollegeAssociate's Degree | Valley Glen, CA | $42,610 | $10,750 | -121% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | Long Beach City CollegeAssociate's Degree | Long Beach, CA | $42,308 | Not available | -126% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | Fresno City CollegeAssociate's Degree | Fresno, CA | $42,228 | Not available | -126% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | Tidewater Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Norfolk, VA | $41,334 | $11,000 | -132% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | Merced CollegeAssociate's Degree | Merced, CA | $41,246 | $7,843 | -138% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | Butte CollegeAssociate's Degree | Oroville, CA | $40,543 | $9,036 | -144% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | Tulsa Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Tulsa, OK | $39,945 | $12,625 | -149% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | Shasta CollegeAssociate's Degree | Redding, CA | $39,704 | Not available | -155% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | Frederick Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Frederick, MD | $38,977 | $10,848 | -155% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | Antelope Valley Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | Lancaster, CA | $38,575 | $12,711 | -166% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | Virginia Western Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Roanoke, VA | $38,545 | $9,128 | -165% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | Mt San Jacinto Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | San Jacinto, CA | $36,114 | $6,625 | -186% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | Laney CollegeAssociate's Degree | Oakland, CA | $30,022 | Not available | -221% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | Barstow Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Barstow, CA | $29,470 | $5,588 | -234% | 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.