Home›Majors›Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians

BACHELOR'S DEGREE · DEGREE PAYOFF · FEDERAL FIELD 1517

Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians: is this bachelor's degree worth it?

National picture across 4 reporting college programs.

MODELED SCENARIO · Positive payoff

+$138,109 over 10 years

National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.

This is a positive modeled result. Price, time to finish and future earnings can still change the outcome.

6.3 yrsModeled economic break-even

+58%Modeled 10-year ROI

$82,792Observed earnings · year 4

Economic ROI includes direct price and earnings forgone during study · $45,000 comparison earnings · values held flat · see the formula

WHAT THIS DEGREE PAYS

Observed national outcomes

$82,792Median reported earnings · year 4

$77,157Average reported earnings · year 5

$20,308Median federal debt

78thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential

4Reporting programs

4With year-4 earnings

COMPARE CREDENTIAL LEVELS

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: $38,931
Federal debt: $12,000
Reporting programs: 1

1 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Associate's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $68,323
Federal debt: $15,460
Reporting programs: 4

4 report earnings →CURRENT VIEW

Bachelor's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $82,792
Federal debt: $20,308
Reporting programs: 4

4 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Master's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $130,582
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 2

2 report earnings →

COLLEGE-TO-COLLEGE RANGE

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$76,731National median$82,79275th percentile$88,670

4 programs report year‑4 earnings.

WHERE OUTCOMES ARE STRONGEST

See the spread, not just the national number.

1Excelsior University$116,151 2Ferris State University$88,670 3Appalachian State University$76,914 4Illinois State University$76,731

Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking

WHERE THIS FIELD CAN LEAD

Related occupations

Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.

Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherSOC 17-3029 · 7 crosswalk linksPower Plant OperatorsSOC 51-8013 · 2 crosswalk linksCommercial and Industrial DesignersSOC 27-1021 · 1 crosswalk linksElectrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and RelaySOC 49-2095 · 1 crosswalk linksSolar Photovoltaic InstallersSOC 47-2231 · 1 crosswalk linksWind Turbine Service TechniciansSOC 49-9081 · 1 crosswalk links

BEST COLLEGES FOR ENERGY SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGIES/TECHNICIANS

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	Excelsior UniversityBachelor's Degree	Albany, NY	$116,151	$33,328	WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive	Not available
2	Ferris State UniversityBachelor's Degree	Big Rapids, MI	$88,670	$20,308	+104%	Strong payoff
3	Appalachian State UniversityBachelor's Degree	Boone, NC	$76,914	Not available	+29%	Positive payoff
4	Illinois State UniversityBachelor's Degree	Normal, IL	$76,731	$17,750	+23%	Positive 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.