English Language and Literature, General: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 15 reporting college programs.
−$204,780 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.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
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.
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $29,719
- Federal debt
- $8,711
- Reporting programs
- 12
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $34,868
- Federal debt
- $8,923
- Reporting programs
- 15
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $48,926
- Federal debt
- $24,636
- Reporting programs
- 614
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $61,269
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 43
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $66,586
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 13
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.
1San Jacinto Community College$45,7202CUNY Bronx Community College$42,6213San Diego Mesa College$41,8264College of Southern Nevada$38,2745Santa Ana College$38,0496CUNY LaGuardia Community College$37,0217College of the Sequoias$35,1748Riverside City College$34,5619CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College$33,10310Mt San Antonio College$31,741Observed 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 | San Jacinto Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Pasadena, TX | $45,720 | $8,250 | -94% | Negative payoff |
| 2 | CUNY Bronx Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Bronx, NY | $42,621 | Not available | -124% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | San Diego Mesa CollegeAssociate's Degree | San Diego, CA | $41,826 | Not available | -131% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | College of Southern NevadaAssociate's Degree | Las Vegas, NV | $38,274 | Not available | -165% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | Santa Ana CollegeAssociate's Degree | Santa Ana, CA | $38,049 | Not available | -172% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | CUNY LaGuardia Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Long Island City, NY | $37,021 | Not available | -178% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | College of the SequoiasAssociate's Degree | Visalia, CA | $35,174 | Not available | -208% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Riverside City CollegeAssociate's Degree | Riverside, CA | $34,561 | Not available | -198% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | New York, NY | $33,103 | $5,700 | -219% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Mt San Antonio CollegeAssociate's Degree | Walnut, CA | $31,741 | Not available | -229% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | South Texas CollegeAssociate's Degree | McAllen, TX | $29,167 | Not available | -269% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | San Diego City CollegeAssociate's Degree | San Diego, CA | $28,005 | Not available | -261% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | Fresno City CollegeAssociate's Degree | Fresno, CA | $27,162 | Not available | -268% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | Austin Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | Austin, TX | $26,316 | $9,596 | -282% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | Community College of PhiladelphiaAssociate's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | Not available | $12,250 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $11,911 |
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.