Engineering Science: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 18 reporting college programs.
+$208,757 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.
Observed earnings clearly outpace the comparison earnings and estimated education cost in this scenario.
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
- $76,355
- Federal debt
- $11,750
- Reporting programs
- 18
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $90,246
- Federal debt
- $21,249
- Reporting programs
- 10
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $137,274
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 5
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.
1Houston City College$80,6022Connecticut State Community College$76,3553SUNY Broome Community College$74,5664Middlesex College$74,4495Nassau Community College$72,6216Hudson County Community College$69,9667County College of Morris$66,762Observed 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 | Houston City CollegeAssociate's Degree | Houston, TX | $80,602 | $17,814 | +251% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Connecticut State Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | New Britain, CT | $76,355 | Not available | +177% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | SUNY Broome Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Binghamton, NY | $74,566 | $11,750 | +174% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | Middlesex CollegeAssociate's Degree | Edison, NJ | $74,449 | Not available | +211% | Strong payoff |
| 5 | Nassau Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Garden City, NY | $72,621 | Not available | +165% | Strong payoff |
| 6 | Hudson County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Jersey City, NJ | $69,966 | $7,000 | +139% | Strong payoff |
| 7 | County College of MorrisAssociate's Degree | Randolph, NJ | $66,762 | Not available | +102% | Strong payoff |
| 8 | Asnuntuck Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | , | $76,355 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 9 | Connecticut State Community College HousatonicAssociate's Degree | , | $76,355 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 10 | Manchester Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | , | $76,355 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 11 | Naugatuck Valley Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | , | $76,355 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 12 | Middlesex Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | , | $76,355 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 13 | Three Rivers Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | , | $76,355 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 14 | Connecticut State Community College NorwalkAssociate's Degree | , | $76,355 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 15 | Northwestern Connecticut Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | , | $76,355 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 16 | Quinebaug Valley Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | , | $76,355 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 17 | Connecticut State Community College GatewayAssociate's Degree | , | $76,355 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 18 | Connecticut State Community College TunxisAssociate's Degree | , | $76,355 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
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.