Agricultural Mechanization: is this undergraduate certificate or diploma worth it?
National picture across 5 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$65,881 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$65,881Median year-4 earnings
$12,004Average institution net-price context
$7,696Median federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$65,881Median reported earnings · year 4
$55,677Average reported earnings · year 5
$7,696Median federal debt
79thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
94IPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
5With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 4 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
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $65,881
- Federal debt
- $7,696
- Reporting programs
- 5
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $62,058
- Federal debt
- $12,553
- Reporting programs
- 10
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $73,393
- Federal debt
- $20,270
- Reporting programs
- 11
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$54,904National median$65,88175th percentile$71,175
5 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.
PRICE × EARNINGS MAP
Where colleges sit for this exact degree
Move left for a lower annual college-wide net price and up for higher observed year-4 earnings.
$71,175Observed year-4 earnings$52,646
Northeast Iowa Community College$11,272 price · $75,681 earningsNorthwood Technical College$8,989 price · $71,175 earningsSouthwest Wisconsin Technical College$12,896 price · $65,881 earningsReedley College$6,814 price · $54,904 earningsPerry Technical Institute$20,047 price · $52,646 earnings
$6,814Annual college-wide average net price$12,896
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 3 programs →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
5 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Northeast Iowa Community College$75,6812Northwood Technical College$71,1753Southwest Wisconsin Technical College$65,8814Reedley College$54,9045Perry Technical Institute$52,646Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →13%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$56,550 median wage37,870 U.S. jobs · SOC 49-3041+10.7% projected employment, 2025–35 · 3.7k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$37,470–$78,740 10th–90th percentileAgricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary$98,700 median wage8,920 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1041+2.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.8k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$50,870–$163,150 10th–90th percentileAircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$79,870 median wage138,090 U.S. jobs · SOC 49-3011+5.4% projected employment, 2025–35 · 11.4k annual openingsTypical entry education: Postsecondary nondegree award$48,780–$128,890 10th–90th percentileMobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$65,510 median wage176,600 U.S. jobs · SOC 49-3042+6.7% projected employment, 2025–35 · 15k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$46,820–$94,460 10th–90th percentileCareer/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$63,820 median wage114,110 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1194-0.3% projected employment, 2025–35 · 8k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$41,960–$108,620 10th–90th percentileAgricultural Equipment Operators$41,730 median wage28,500 U.S. jobs · SOC 45-2091+8.6% projected employment, 2025–35 · 10.1k annual openingsTypical entry education: No formal educational credential$33,500–$58,650 10th–90th percentile
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northeast Iowa Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Calmar, IA | $75,681 | $7,500 | Baseline needed | $11,272 |
| 2 | Northwood Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Rice Lake, WI | $71,175 | Not available | Baseline needed | $8,989 |
| 3 | Southwest Wisconsin Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Fennimore, WI | $65,881 | Not available | Baseline needed | $12,896 |
| 4 | Reedley CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Reedley, CA | $54,904 | Not available | Baseline needed | $6,814 |
| 5 | Perry Technical InstituteUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Yakima, WA | $52,646 | $7,892 | Baseline needed | $20,047 |
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.