Data Processing: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 21 reporting college programs.
10-year estimate · Negative payoff
−$24,677 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.
13.0 yrsModeled economic break-even
−23%Modeled 10-year ROI
$53,247Observed earnings · year 4
Not reachedMaximum annual price for positive 10-year payoff
Four useful answers about Data Processing
How much do Data Processing associate's degree graduates earn?
The national median is $53,247 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 $16,959. The figure excludes private loans and does not describe every graduate.
Does the college matter for Data Processing?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $48,306 to $58,860 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Data Processing?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 1 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−$7,530
$8,000Current college-wide context−$23,530
$9,000Current college-wide context−$25,530
$16,000Annual price−$39,530
$24,000Annual price−$55,530
$32,000Annual price−$71,530
$40,000Annual price−$87,530
Observed national outcomes
$53,247Median reported earnings · year 4
$46,740Average reported earnings · year 5
$16,959Median federal debt
60thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
1IPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
21With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 1 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
- $50,824
- Federal debt
- $10,718
- Reporting programs
- 1
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $53,247
- Federal debt
- $16,959
- Reporting programs
- 21
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $84,099
- Federal debt
- $21,750
- Reporting programs
- 3
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $167,605
- 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.
Median
25th percentile$48,306National median$53,24775th percentile$58,860
21 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.
$62,707Observed year-4 earnings$37,133
American Public University System$9,597 price · $63,673 earningsMiami University-Hamilton$11,286 price · $62,707 earningsMiami University-Middletown$10,809 price · $62,707 earningsMiami University-Oxford$28,384 price · $62,707 earningsGreenville Technical College$11,713 price · $59,402 earningsSpartanburg Community College$2,405 price · $58,860 earningsYork Technical College$5,931 price · $56,291 earningsMidlands Technical College$4,647 price · $53,618 earningsNew Mexico State University-Dona Ana$6,048 price · $53,247 earningsNew Mexico State University-Main Campus$8,889 price · $53,247 earningsTri-County Technical College$14,670 price · $52,237 earningsCUNY Bronx Community College$4,462 price · $50,195 earningsPiedmont Technical College$11,366 price · $49,636 earningsTrident Technical College$1,406 price · $48,936 earningsCUNY Kingsborough Community College$5,606 price · $48,306 earningsHorry-Georgetown Technical College$4,159 price · $45,817 earningsSUNY Broome Community College$8,940 price · $45,553 earningsDelgado Community College$9,747 price · $45,367 earningsCUNY Queensborough Community College$4,458 price · $42,907 earningsAthens Technical College$6,949 price · $37,133 earnings
$1,406Annual college-wide average net price$14,670
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.
21 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1American Public University System$63,6732Miami University-Hamilton$62,7073Miami University-Middletown$62,7074Miami University-Oxford$62,7075Greenville Technical College$59,4026Spartanburg Community College$58,8607York Technical College$56,2918Midlands Technical College$53,6189New Mexico State University-Dona Ana$53,24710New Mexico State University-Grants$53,247Observed 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.
Computer Occupations, All Other$116,580 median wage435,370 U.S. jobs · SOC 15-1299+5.1% projected employment, 2025–35 · 27k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$55,940–$188,470 10th–90th percentile
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Where this degree has enough data to compare
State pages are published only when at least five operating colleges report year-4 earnings for this exact field and credential.
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 | American Public University SystemAssociate's Degree | Charles Town, WV | $63,673 | $19,000 | +71% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | Miami University-HamiltonAssociate's Degree | Hamilton, OH | $62,707 | $21,031 | +57% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | Miami University-MiddletownAssociate's Degree | Middletown, OH | $62,707 | $21,031 | +59% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | Miami University-OxfordAssociate's Degree | Oxford, OH | $62,707 | $21,031 | +21% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | Greenville Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Greenville, SC | $59,402 | $21,083 | +27% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | Spartanburg Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Spartanburg, SC | $58,860 | Not available | +46% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | York Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Rock Hill, SC | $56,291 | $15,125 | +11% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | Midlands Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | West Columbia, SC | $53,618 | $14,013 | -13% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | New Mexico State University-Dona AnaAssociate's Degree | Las Cruces, NM | $53,247 | $9,750 | -19% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | New Mexico State University-GrantsAssociate's Degree | Grants, NM | $53,247 | $9,750 | -9% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | New Mexico State University-Main CampusAssociate's Degree | Las Cruces, NM | $53,247 | $9,750 | -23% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Tri-County Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Pendleton, SC | $52,237 | Not available | -39% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | CUNY Bronx Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Bronx, NY | $50,195 | Not available | -47% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | Piedmont Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Greenwood, SC | $49,636 | Not available | -59% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | Trident Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Charleston, SC | $48,936 | Not available | -58% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | CUNY Kingsborough Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $48,306 | Not available | -67% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Horry-Georgetown Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Conway, SC | $45,817 | $16,500 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | SUNY Broome Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Binghamton, NY | $45,553 | Not available | -95% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | Delgado Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | New Orleans, LA | $45,367 | $17,418 | -97% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | CUNY Queensborough Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Bayside, NY | $42,907 | Not available | -121% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Athens Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Athens, GA | $37,133 | Not available | -176% | 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.