American Sign Language: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 7 reporting college programs.
10-year estimate · Negative payoff
−$139,810 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.
With these assumptions, the added earnings do not recover the cost within ten years.
Not availableModeled economic break-even
−133%Modeled 10-year ROI
$41,525Observed earnings · year 4
Not reachedMaximum annual price for positive 10-year payoff
Four useful answers about American Sign Language
How much do American Sign Language associate's degree graduates earn?
The national median is $41,525 four years after completion across reportable associate's degree programs in this federal field.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
The median reported federal debt is $25,131. The figure excludes private loans and does not describe every graduate.
Does the college matter for American Sign Language?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $34,519 to $43,647 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to American Sign Language?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 4 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price−$124,755
$8,000Current college-wide context−$140,755
$16,000Annual price−$156,755
$24,000Annual price−$172,755
$32,000Annual price−$188,755
$40,000Annual price−$204,755
Observed national outcomes
$41,525Median reported earnings · year 4
$39,494Average reported earnings · year 5
$25,131Median federal debt
28thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
Not availableIPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
6With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 0 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.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $40,131
- Federal debt
- $17,000
- Reporting programs
- 5
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $41,525
- Federal debt
- $25,131
- Reporting programs
- 7
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $45,475
- Federal debt
- $25,644
- Reporting programs
- 22
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $73,269
- 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.
Median
25th percentile$34,519National median$41,52575th percentile$43,647
6 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.
$46,629Observed year-4 earnings$22,261
Saint Louis Community College$8,440 price · $47,106 earningsOklahoma State University-Oklahoma City$7,081 price · $46,629 earningsColumbus State Community College$8,400 price · $43,647 earningsOakland Community College$5,777 price · $39,402 earningsSaint Paul College$11,495 price · $34,519 earningsSouth Texas College$1,751 price · $22,261 earnings
$1,751Annual college-wide average net price$8,440
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.
7 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Saint Louis Community College$47,1062Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City$46,6293Columbus State Community College$43,6474Oakland Community College$39,4025Saint Paul College$34,5196South Texas College$22,2617Delgado Community CollegeNot availableObserved 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 →12%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Interpreters and Translators$60,170 median wage52,060 U.S. jobs · SOC 27-3091+2.0% projected employment, 2025–35 · 6k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$37,070–$103,660 10th–90th percentileForeign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$79,350 median wage19,830 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1124+0.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1.6k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$49,060–$136,050 10th–90th percentileSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$72,040 median wage1,065,210 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-2031-0.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 63.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$48,780–$107,600 10th–90th percentilePostsecondary Teachers, All Other$77,640 median wage149,840 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1199+2.0% projected employment, 2025–35 · 12.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$44,300–$160,700 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. 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 | Saint Louis Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Bridgeton, MO | $47,106 | Not available | -80% | Negative payoff |
| 2 | Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma CityAssociate's Degree | Oklahoma City, OK | $46,629 | Not available | -84% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | Columbus State Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Columbus, OH | $43,647 | Not available | -113% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | Oakland Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Auburn Hills, MI | $39,402 | Not available | -155% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | Saint Paul CollegeAssociate's Degree | Saint Paul, MN | $34,519 | Not available | -193% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | South Texas CollegeAssociate's Degree | McAllen, TX | $22,261 | Not available | -343% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Delgado Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | New Orleans, LA | Not available | $25,131 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $9,747 |
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.