Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 7 reporting college programs.
+$60,656 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.
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $62,985
- Federal debt
- $14,589
- Reporting programs
- 7
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $71,688
- Federal debt
- $23,359
- Reporting programs
- 10
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $110,606
- 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.
1Northern Kentucky University$92,8492New England Institute of Technology$68,3593Northcentral Technical College$64,6854Ferris State University$62,9855Southeast Technical College$53,7776North Dakota State College of Science$53,2757Northeast Wisconsin Technical College$53,150Observed 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 | Northern Kentucky UniversityAssociate's Degree | Highland Heights, KY | $92,849 | $22,738 | +350% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | New England Institute of TechnologyAssociate's Degree | East Greenwich, RI | $68,359 | Not available | +43% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | Northcentral Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Wausau, WI | $64,685 | Not available | +78% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | Ferris State UniversityAssociate's Degree | Big Rapids, MI | $62,985 | $14,589 | +68% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | Southeast Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Sioux Falls, SD | $53,777 | Not available | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | North Dakota State College of ScienceAssociate's Degree | Wahpeton, ND | $53,275 | Not available | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Northeast Wisconsin Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Green Bay, WI | $53,150 | $14,188 | -26% | 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.