Sociology: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 29 reporting college programs.
−$102,728 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
- $51,562
- Federal debt
- $26,000
- Reporting programs
- 4
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $45,161
- Federal debt
- $10,062
- Reporting programs
- 29
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $52,094
- Federal debt
- $25,000
- Reporting programs
- 509
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $66,645
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 6
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $102,687
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
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.
1Mission College$64,1742De Anza College$62,0813Santa Rosa Junior College$57,4504Diablo Valley College$56,6835West Valley College$51,8186College of the Canyons$50,5267Chabot College$48,9328Cosumnes River College$48,6819Riverside City College$46,73010San Diego Mesa College$46,618Observed 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 | Mission CollegeAssociate's Degree | Santa Clara, CA | $64,174 | Not available | +91% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | De Anza CollegeAssociate's Degree | Cupertino, CA | $62,081 | Not available | +65% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | Santa Rosa Junior CollegeAssociate's Degree | Santa Rosa, CA | $57,450 | Not available | +21% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | Diablo Valley CollegeAssociate's Degree | Pleasant Hill, CA | $56,683 | Not available | +10% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | West Valley CollegeAssociate's Degree | Saratoga, CA | $51,818 | Not available | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | College of the CanyonsAssociate's Degree | Santa Clarita, CA | $50,526 | $8,750 | -43% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Chabot CollegeAssociate's Degree | Hayward, CA | $48,932 | Not available | -64% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Cosumnes River CollegeAssociate's Degree | Sacramento, CA | $48,681 | Not available | -64% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Riverside City CollegeAssociate's Degree | Riverside, CA | $46,730 | $11,500 | -84% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | San Diego Mesa CollegeAssociate's Degree | San Diego, CA | $46,618 | Not available | -84% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | Salt Lake Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Salt Lake City, UT | $46,471 | $9,500 | -87% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Modesto Junior CollegeAssociate's Degree | Modesto, CA | $46,397 | Not available | -85% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | New York, NY | $46,133 | $5,500 | -89% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | Bakersfield CollegeAssociate's Degree | Bakersfield, CA | $45,822 | Not available | -93% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | Santa Ana CollegeAssociate's Degree | Santa Ana, CA | $45,161 | Not available | -98% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | Sacramento City CollegeAssociate's Degree | Sacramento, CA | $42,361 | Not available | -126% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Antelope Valley Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | Lancaster, CA | $42,230 | $10,062 | -128% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | Southwestern CollegeAssociate's Degree | Chula Vista, CA | $42,170 | Not available | -125% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | Oklahoma City Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Oklahoma City, OK | $42,067 | $15,235 | -129% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | College of Western IdahoAssociate's Degree | Nampa, ID | $41,791 | Not available | -130% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Merced CollegeAssociate's Degree | Merced, CA | $41,486 | Not available | -135% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | Fresno City CollegeAssociate's Degree | Fresno, CA | $40,709 | Not available | -140% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | Delaware County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Media, PA | $39,381 | $11,500 | -154% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | Pasadena City CollegeAssociate's Degree | Pasadena, CA | $39,348 | Not available | -158% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | College of the SequoiasAssociate's Degree | Visalia, CA | $38,796 | Not available | -168% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | Los Angeles Valley CollegeAssociate's Degree | Valley Glen, CA | $38,299 | Not available | -159% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | Mt San Antonio CollegeAssociate's Degree | Walnut, CA | $37,703 | Not available | -171% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | College of the DesertAssociate's Degree | Palm Desert, CA | $35,465 | Not available | -179% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | Glendale Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Glendale, CA | $34,788 | Not available | -196% | 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.