Social Sciences, Other: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 3 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$243,419 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
−218%Modeled 10-year ROI
$31,840Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$31,840Median reported earnings · year 4
$43,199Average reported earnings · year 5
$11,204Median federal debt
4thYear-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.
CURRENT VIEW
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $31,840
- Federal debt
- $11,204
- Reporting programs
- 3
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $54,888
- Federal debt
- $25,750
- Reporting programs
- 40
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $71,200
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 9
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $73,080
- 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$28,986National median$31,84075th percentile$31,840
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
1Rose State CollegeMidwest City, OK · PublicYear-4 earnings$48,893Federal debt$11,967Annual net price$12,1482Mohave Community CollegeKingman, AZ · PublicYear-4 earnings$31,840Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$5,9743Carl Albert State CollegePoteau, OK · PublicYear-4 earnings$28,986Federal debt$10,441Annual net price$14,607
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Rose State College$48,8932Mohave Community College$31,8403Carl Albert State College$28,986Observed 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 · 1 crosswalk linksSocial Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All OtherSOC 25-1069 · 1 crosswalk linksSocial Scientists and Related Workers, All OtherSOC 19-3099 · 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 | Rose State CollegeAssociate's Degree | Midwest City, OK | $48,893 | $11,967 | -66% | Negative payoff |
| 2 | Mohave Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Kingman, AZ | $31,840 | Not available | -229% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | Carl Albert State CollegeAssociate's Degree | Poteau, OK | $28,986 | $10,441 | -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.