Agricultural Production Operations: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 18 reporting college programs.
−$149,348 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
- $46,904
- Federal debt
- $11,000
- Reporting programs
- 4
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $41,868
- Federal debt
- $11,629
- Reporting programs
- 18
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $52,516
- Federal debt
- $22,123
- Reporting programs
- 19
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $52,419
- 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.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Northeast Community College$71,7262Kirkwood Community College$61,1183Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute$56,2344Ohio State University-Main Campus$56,2345Mitchell Technical College$49,7006Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University$46,6697Northeastern Junior College$44,5378Ellsworth Community College$43,8639North Carolina State University at Raleigh$43,36110Piedmont Technical College$40,375Observed 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 | Northeast Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Norfolk, NE | $71,726 | Not available | +150% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Kirkwood Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Cedar Rapids, IA | $61,118 | $10,000 | +47% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | Ohio State University Agricultural Technical InstituteAssociate's Degree | Wooster, OH | $56,234 | $12,000 | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | Ohio State University-Main CampusAssociate's Degree | Columbus, OH | $56,234 | $12,000 | -10% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | Mitchell Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Mitchell, SD | $49,700 | $12,000 | -60% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityAssociate's Degree | Blacksburg, VA | $46,669 | $11,000 | -88% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Northeastern Junior CollegeAssociate's Degree | Sterling, CO | $44,537 | Not available | -104% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Ellsworth Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Iowa Falls, IA | $43,863 | Not available | -110% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | North Carolina State University at RaleighAssociate's Degree | Raleigh, NC | $43,361 | $12,000 | -113% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Piedmont Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Greenwood, SC | $40,375 | Not available | -141% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | Southern Maine Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | South Portland, ME | $40,025 | Not available | -144% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | University of Nebraska-LincolnAssociate's Degree | Lincoln, NE | $39,559 | $11,629 | -143% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | Nebraska College of Technical AgricultureAssociate's Degree | Curtis, NE | $39,559 | $11,629 | -146% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | Niagara County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Sanborn, NY | $35,518 | $11,000 | -191% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | Vermont State UniversityAssociate's Degree | Randolph, VT | $34,308 | Not available | -185% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | Northcentral Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Wausau, WI | $33,350 | $9,000 | -205% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Wilkes Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Wilkesboro, NC | $31,127 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 18 | University of Puerto Rico-UtuadoAssociate's Degree | Utuado, PR | $13,731 | Not available | -367% | 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.