Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 16 reporting college programs.
+$108,047 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.
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
- $69,525
- Federal debt
- $20,406
- Reporting programs
- 8
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $80,992
- Federal debt
- $24,736
- Reporting programs
- 16
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $102,015
- 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.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Maine Maritime Academy$112,2462Pittsburg State University$111,9203Jacksonville State University$92,3584East Carolina University$87,8485Eastern Washington University$84,2656Shawnee State University$84,0157Old Dominion University$81,0778Daytona State College$80,9929University of Maryland Eastern Shore$77,89910Bowling Green State University-Firelands$75,677Observed 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 | Maine Maritime AcademyBachelor's Degree | Castine, ME | $112,246 | $27,000 | +146% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Pittsburg State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pittsburg, KS | $111,920 | $21,235 | +175% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | Jacksonville State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Jacksonville, AL | $92,358 | $24,471 | +100% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | East Carolina UniversityBachelor's Degree | Greenville, NC | $87,848 | $22,115 | +76% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | Eastern Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Cheney, WA | $84,265 | Not available | +67% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | Shawnee State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Portsmouth, OH | $84,015 | $28,750 | +64% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | Old Dominion UniversityBachelor's Degree | Norfolk, VA | $81,077 | $25,000 | +51% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | Daytona State CollegeBachelor's Degree | Daytona Beach, FL | $80,992 | $23,319 | +72% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | University of Maryland Eastern ShoreBachelor's Degree | Princess Anne, MD | $77,899 | Not available | +41% | Positive payoff |
| 10 | Bowling Green State University-FirelandsBachelor's Degree | Huron, OH | $75,677 | $23,750 | +23% | Positive payoff |
| 11 | Bowling Green State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Bowling Green, OH | $75,677 | $23,750 | +11% | Positive payoff |
| 12 | North Carolina A&T State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Greensboro, NC | $74,974 | $31,000 | +34% | Positive payoff |
| 13 | Purdue University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | West Lafayette, IN | $63,954 | $21,500 | -20% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | Keene State CollegeBachelor's Degree | Keene, NH | $61,991 | $27,000 | -32% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | Berklee College of MusicBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $48,069 | $26,000 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | Cal Poly Maritime AcademyBachelor's Degree | Vallejo, CA | Not available | $27,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $20,555 |
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.