Agricultural Mechanization: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 10 reporting college programs.
+$63,562 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.
This is a positive modeled result. Price, time to finish and future earnings can still change the outcome.
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
- $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.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1North Dakota State College of Science$81,1682Owens Community College$80,5003Northwest Mississippi Community College$72,8024Kirkwood Community College$63,4675Lake Land College$62,1996Spoon River College$61,9177Mitchell Technical College$59,2568Fort Hays Tech North Central$57,5349South Georgia Technical College$55,08910Baker College$49,131Observed 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 | North Dakota State College of ScienceAssociate's Degree | Wahpeton, ND | $81,168 | $12,553 | +221% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Owens Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Perrysburg, OH | $80,500 | Not available | +221% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | Northwest Mississippi Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Senatobia, MS | $72,802 | Not available | +163% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | Kirkwood Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Cedar Rapids, IA | $63,467 | Not available | +69% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | Lake Land CollegeAssociate's Degree | Mattoon, IL | $62,199 | Not available | +82% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | Spoon River CollegeAssociate's Degree | Canton, IL | $61,917 | Not available | +75% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | Mitchell Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Mitchell, SD | $59,256 | Not available | +22% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | Fort Hays Tech North CentralAssociate's Degree | Beloit, KS | $57,534 | Not available | +9% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | South Georgia Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Americus, GA | $55,089 | Not available | +9% | Positive payoff |
| 10 | Baker CollegeAssociate's Degree | Owosso, MI | $49,131 | Not available | -64% | 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.