Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 2 reporting college programs.
10-year estimate · Positive payoff
+$947 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.
The estimate clears the cost within ten years, though your price and time to finish may change the result.
9.9 yrsModeled economic break-even
+1%Modeled 10-year ROI
$56,769Observed earnings · year 4
$13,845Maximum annual price for positive 10-year payoff
The price benchmark is $474 per year below this threshold.
Includes direct price and earnings forgone while studying. Assumes $45,000 in alternative annual earnings and no wage growth. How we calculate itFour useful answers about Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
How much do Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering associate's degree graduates earn?
The national median is $56,769 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 $20,000. The figure excludes private loans and does not describe every graduate.
Does the college matter for Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $42,765 to $42,765 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 7 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+$27,690
$8,000Annual price+$11,690
$13,000Current college-wide context+$1,690
$16,000Annual price−$4,310
$24,000Annual price−$20,310
$32,000Annual price−$36,310
$40,000Annual price−$52,310
Observed national outcomes
$56,769Median reported earnings · year 4
$34,188Average reported earnings · year 5
$20,000Median federal debt
68thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
Not availableIPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
2With 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
- $55,333
- Federal debt
- $6,333
- Reporting programs
- 2
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $56,769
- Federal debt
- $20,000
- Reporting programs
- 2
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $98,640
- Federal debt
- $25,000
- Reporting programs
- 268
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $134,287
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 62
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $222,994
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $138,018
- 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$42,765National median$56,76975th percentile$42,765
2 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.
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 2 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.
2 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1CUNY LaGuardia Community College$70,7732Southern Technical College$42,765Observed 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.
Architectural and Engineering Managers$171,270 median wage220,260 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-9041+5.5% projected employment, 2025–35 · 14.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$120,810–$262,760 10th–90th percentileEngineering Teachers, Postsecondary$109,270 median wage40,270 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1032+7.8% projected employment, 2025–35 · 3.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$61,550–$210,370 10th–90th percentileElectronics Engineers, Except Computer$130,220 median wage96,900 U.S. jobs · SOC 17-2072+3.7% projected employment, 2025–35 · 4.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$81,840–$206,960 10th–90th percentileEngineers, All Other$122,930 median wage154,070 U.S. jobs · SOC 17-2199+3.7% projected employment, 2025–35 · 8.8k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$66,810–$189,950 10th–90th percentileElectrical Engineers$120,630 median wage198,750 U.S. jobs · SOC 17-2071+9.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 11.4k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$76,550–$184,300 10th–90th percentileComputer Hardware Engineers$161,740 median wage76,660 U.S. jobs · SOC 17-2061+9.1% projected employment, 2025–35 · 4.1k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$92,940–$225,330 10th–90th percentileAerospace Engineers$134,960 median wage67,710 U.S. jobs · SOC 17-2011+8.3% projected employment, 2025–35 · 3.8k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$86,700–$205,890 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 | CUNY LaGuardia Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Long Island City, NY | $70,773 | Not available | +152% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Southern Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Orlando, FL | $42,765 | $20,000 | -117% | 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.