Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 184 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$175,545 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
−161%Modeled 10-year ROI
$38,349Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$38,349Median reported earnings · year 4
$34,490Average reported earnings · year 5
$13,568Median federal debt
18thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
184Reporting programs
172With 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.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $35,034
- Federal debt
- $15,500
- Reporting programs
- 46
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $38,349
- Federal debt
- $13,568
- Reporting programs
- 184
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $47,730
- Federal debt
- $26,000
- Reporting programs
- 742
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $58,135
- Federal debt
- $20,089
- Reporting programs
- 7
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $58,916
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 385
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $87,754
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 7
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $59,670
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $54,842
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 7
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $54,617
- 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$34,197National median$38,34975th percentile$41,621
172 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1Houston City College$58,4512Raritan Valley Community College$58,3353Hagerstown Community College$57,2904Tarrant County College District$55,1365San Jacinto Community College$54,0186Anne Arundel Community College$53,9847Lone Star College System$53,8308Casper College$53,4709College of Southern Nevada$52,71910Collin County Community College District$52,314Observed 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.
Education Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1081 · 11 crosswalk linksElementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationSOC 25-2021 · 8 crosswalk linksSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationSOC 25-2031 · 8 crosswalk linksMiddle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationSOC 25-2022 · 7 crosswalk linksKindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationSOC 25-2012 · 6 crosswalk linksPreschool Teachers, Except Special EducationSOC 25-2011 · 6 crosswalk linksTeachers and Instructors, All OtherSOC 25-3099 · 3 crosswalk linksSelf-Enrichment TeachersSOC 25-3021 · 2 crosswalk linksAdult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language InstructorsSOC 25-3011 · 1 crosswalk linksNO MATCHSOC 99-9999 · 1 crosswalk linksPostsecondary Teachers, All OtherSOC 25-1199 · 1 crosswalk linksTeaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special EducationSOC 25-9042 · 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 | Houston City CollegeAssociate's Degree | Houston, TX | $58,451 | $16,250 | +33% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | Raritan Valley Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Branchburg, NJ | $58,335 | $11,400 | +29% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | Hagerstown Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Hagerstown, MD | $57,290 | Not available | +19% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | Tarrant County College DistrictAssociate's Degree | Fort Worth, TX | $55,136 | $9,750 | +3% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | San Jacinto Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Pasadena, TX | $54,018 | $11,000 | -21% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Anne Arundel Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Arnold, MD | $53,984 | Not available | -25% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Lone Star College SystemAssociate's Degree | The Woodlands, TX | $53,830 | $8,479 | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Casper CollegeAssociate's Degree | Casper, WY | $53,470 | $10,408 | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | College of Southern NevadaAssociate's Degree | Las Vegas, NV | $52,719 | $11,069 | -25% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Collin County Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | McKinney, TX | $52,314 | $9,125 | -32% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | Austin Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | Austin, TX | $51,880 | $17,785 | -33% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Grayson CollegeAssociate's Degree | Denison, TX | $51,745 | Not available | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | Dallas CollegeAssociate's Degree | Dallas, TX | $51,714 | $12,500 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | St Philip's CollegeAssociate's Degree | San Antonio, TX | $51,631 | Not available | -33% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | Roxbury Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Roxbury Crossing, MA | $51,516 | Not available | -43% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | South Plains CollegeAssociate's Degree | Levelland, TX | $50,149 | Not available | -50% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Odessa CollegeAssociate's Degree | Odessa, TX | $49,754 | Not available | -54% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | Kalamazoo Valley Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Kalamazoo, MI | $49,614 | Not available | -52% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | Camden County CollegeAssociate's Degree | Blackwood, NJ | $48,628 | $8,750 | -64% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | Normandale Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Bloomington, MN | $48,468 | $11,000 | -70% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Northwest Vista CollegeAssociate's Degree | San Antonio, TX | $48,330 | $8,750 | -66% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | Arizona Western CollegeAssociate's Degree | Yuma, AZ | $48,250 | Not available | -70% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | Leeward Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Pearl City, HI | $48,181 | $11,874 | -68% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | Navarro CollegeAssociate's Degree | Corsicana, TX | $47,911 | $16,488 | -76% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | Lake Washington Institute of TechnologyAssociate's Degree | Kirkland, WA | $46,096 | Not available | -89% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | North Central Texas CollegeAssociate's Degree | Gainesville, TX | $45,900 | $16,352 | -91% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | Salt Lake Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Salt Lake City, UT | $45,017 | $13,649 | -100% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | Oklahoma City Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Oklahoma City, OK | $44,727 | $8,999 | -103% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | Northern Essex Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Haverhill, MA | $44,547 | $10,129 | -104% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | Eastern Arizona CollegeAssociate's Degree | Thatcher, AZ | $44,015 | Not available | -109% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | Tyler Junior CollegeAssociate's Degree | Tyler, TX | $43,827 | $11,000 | -111% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | Urban College of BostonAssociate's Degree | Boston, MA | $43,664 | Not available | -113% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | Community College of PhiladelphiaAssociate's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $42,541 | $14,000 | -122% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | College of Southern IdahoAssociate's Degree | Twin Falls, ID | $42,109 | $8,006 | -128% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | Weatherford CollegeAssociate's Degree | Weatherford, TX | $41,963 | Not available | -128% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | Cochise County Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | Sierra Vista, AZ | $41,934 | Not available | -129% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | College of Western IdahoAssociate's Degree | Nampa, ID | $41,881 | $10,626 | -129% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | Northeast Wisconsin Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Green Bay, WI | $41,716 | $15,835 | -130% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | Northern Wyoming Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | Sheridan, WY | $41,644 | $11,334 | -131% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | Connecticut State Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | New Britain, CT | $41,621 | Not available | -130% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | Northampton County Area Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Bethlehem, PA | $41,092 | $13,796 | -134% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | Amarillo CollegeAssociate's Degree | Amarillo, TX | $40,796 | $15,250 | -142% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | NHTI-Concord's Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Concord, NH | $40,793 | $13,317 | -133% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | Delaware County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Media, PA | $40,779 | $13,340 | -141% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | Sinclair Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Dayton, OH | $40,651 | $12,129 | -143% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | McLennan Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Waco, TX | $40,644 | Not available | -144% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | Tallahassee State CollegeAssociate's Degree | Tallahassee, FL | $40,414 | $16,722 | -143% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | Bunker Hill Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Boston, MA | $40,244 | Not available | -145% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | Community College of VermontAssociate's Degree | Montpelier, VT | $40,214 | $10,357 | -141% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | Seminole State College of FloridaAssociate's Degree | Sanford, FL | $40,187 | Not available | -145% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | Vincennes UniversityAssociate's Degree | Vincennes, IN | $40,061 | $11,500 | -144% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | Harrisburg Area Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Harrisburg, PA | $39,960 | $16,838 | -142% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | Rose State CollegeAssociate's Degree | Midwest City, OK | $39,791 | $11,500 | -146% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | Mississippi Gulf Coast Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Perkinston, MS | $39,724 | $11,880 | -151% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | Paris Junior CollegeAssociate's Degree | Paris, TX | $39,613 | Not available | -151% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | Bowling Green State University-FirelandsAssociate's Degree | Huron, OH | $39,470 | $13,090 | -144% | Negative payoff |
| 57 | Bowling Green State University-Main CampusAssociate's Degree | Bowling Green, OH | $39,470 | $13,090 | -140% | Negative payoff |
| 58 | Rasmussen University-FloridaAssociate's Degree | Ocala, FL | $39,403 | $23,086 | -142% | Negative payoff |
| 59 | Rasmussen University-MinnesotaAssociate's Degree | St. Cloud, MN | $39,403 | $23,086 | -144% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | Rasmussen University-North DakotaAssociate's Degree | Fargo, ND | $39,403 | $23,086 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 61 | Rasmussen University-IllinoisAssociate's Degree | Rockford, IL | $39,403 | $23,086 | -143% | Negative payoff |
| 62 | Rasmussen University-WisconsinAssociate's Degree | Green Bay, WI | $39,403 | $23,086 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 63 | Rasmussen University-KansasAssociate's Degree | Topeka, KS | $39,403 | $23,086 | -141% | Negative payoff |
| 64 | Southwest Wisconsin Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Fennimore, WI | $39,345 | Not available | -149% | Negative payoff |
| 65 | Pima Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Tucson, AZ | $39,247 | Not available | -159% | Negative payoff |
| 66 | SUNY Corning Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Corning, NY | $39,219 | $11,000 | -155% | Negative payoff |
| 67 | San Antonio CollegeAssociate's Degree | San Antonio, TX | $39,214 | $10,375 | -158% | Negative payoff |
| 68 | Nassau Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Garden City, NY | $39,105 | $9,375 | -157% | Negative payoff |
| 69 | Bucks County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Newtown, PA | $39,031 | $14,125 | -158% | Negative payoff |
| 70 | Arkansas State University-BeebeAssociate's Degree | Beebe, AR | $38,747 | $7,000 | -155% | Negative payoff |
| 71 | Alexandria Technical & Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Alexandria, MN | $38,696 | Not available | -154% | Negative payoff |
| 72 | Palm Beach State CollegeAssociate's Degree | Lake Worth, FL | $38,687 | $6,725 | -158% | Negative payoff |
| 73 | Henry Ford CollegeAssociate's Degree | Dearborn, MI | $38,566 | $17,365 | -170% | Negative payoff |
| 74 | Palo Alto CollegeAssociate's Degree | San Antonio, TX | $38,409 | $9,430 | -167% | Negative payoff |
| 75 | Blackhawk Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Janesville, WI | $38,396 | Not available | -161% | Negative payoff |
| 76 | Delaware Technical Community College-TerryAssociate's Degree | Dover, DE | $38,352 | $8,450 | -159% | Negative payoff |
| 77 | Bristol Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Fall River, MA | $38,346 | $7,788 | -166% | Negative payoff |
| 78 | Northwest Mississippi Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Senatobia, MS | $38,015 | $8,803 | -166% | Negative payoff |
| 79 | University of Cincinnati-Main CampusAssociate's Degree | Cincinnati, OH | $37,898 | $15,625 | -150% | Negative payoff |
| 80 | University of Cincinnati-Clermont CollegeAssociate's Degree | Batavia, OH | $37,898 | $15,625 | -160% | Negative payoff |
| 81 | University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash CollegeAssociate's Degree | Blue Ash, OH | $37,898 | $15,625 | -158% | Negative payoff |
| 82 | Wake Technical Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Raleigh, NC | $37,801 | $20,582 | -167% | Negative payoff |
| 83 | Northwest CollegeAssociate's Degree | Powell, WY | $37,774 | Not available | -169% | Negative payoff |
| 84 | Essex County CollegeAssociate's Degree | Newark, NJ | $37,715 | Not available | -174% | Negative payoff |
| 85 | Montgomery County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Blue Bell, PA | $37,654 | $14,250 | -165% | Negative payoff |
| 86 | Middlesex Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Bedford, MA | $37,535 | Not available | -178% | Negative payoff |
| 87 | New Mexico State University-Dona AnaAssociate's Degree | Las Cruces, NM | $37,514 | Not available | -173% | Negative payoff |
| 88 | New Mexico State University-AlamogordoAssociate's Degree | Alamogordo, NM | $37,514 | Not available | -171% | Negative payoff |
| 89 | New Mexico State University-GrantsAssociate's Degree | Grants, NM | $37,514 | Not available | -183% | Negative payoff |
| 90 | New Mexico State University-Main CampusAssociate's Degree | Las Cruces, NM | $37,514 | Not available | -169% | Negative payoff |
| 91 | Jefferson CollegeAssociate's Degree | Hillsboro, MO | $37,268 | Not available | -174% | Negative payoff |
| 92 | Central New Mexico Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Albuquerque, NM | $37,218 | $9,625 | -178% | Negative payoff |
| 93 | Central Piedmont Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Charlotte, NC | $37,153 | Not available | -181% | Negative payoff |
| 94 | Haywood Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Clyde, NC | $37,069 | Not available | -177% | Negative payoff |
| 95 | Southern Maine Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | South Portland, ME | $36,910 | Not available | -172% | Negative payoff |
| 96 | Carl Albert State CollegeAssociate's Degree | Poteau, OK | $36,542 | Not available | -171% | Negative payoff |
| 97 | Stark State CollegeAssociate's Degree | North Canton, OH | $36,493 | Not available | -183% | Negative payoff |
| 98 | Forsyth Technical Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Winston-Salem, NC | $36,484 | $22,337 | -182% | Negative payoff |
| 99 | Fisher CollegeAssociate's Degree | Boston, MA | $36,272 | Not available | -161% | Negative payoff |
| 100 | The University of Arizona Global CampusAssociate's Degree | Chandler, AZ | $36,261 | $27,875 | -157% | 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.