Information Science/Studies: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 26 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Positive payoff
+$60,006 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.
This is a positive modeled result. Price, time to finish and future earnings can still change the outcome.
6.7 yrsModeled economic break-even
+50%Modeled 10-year ROI
$63,006Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$63,006Median reported earnings · year 4
$59,590Average reported earnings · year 5
$24,788Median federal debt
77thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
26Reporting programs
25With year-4 earnings
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
- $91,498
- Federal debt
- $14,616
- Reporting programs
- 5
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $63,006
- Federal debt
- $24,788
- Reporting programs
- 26
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $83,331
- Federal debt
- $26,000
- Reporting programs
- 162
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $141,703
- Federal debt
- $24,773
- Reporting programs
- 1
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $99,838
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 72
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $209,391
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $52,761
- 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$52,895National median$63,00675th percentile$69,394
25 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of Massachusetts-Lowell$75,4232University of Cincinnati-Main Campus$75,2483University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash College$75,2484Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre$69,3945Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton$69,3946Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine$69,3947Pennsylvania State University-Penn State DuBois$69,3948Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton$69,3949Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus$69,39410Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Mont Alto$69,394Observed 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.
Computer Occupations, All OtherSOC 15-1299 · 1 crosswalk linksComputer Science Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1021 · 1 crosswalk linksComputer and Information Research ScientistsSOC 15-1221 · 1 crosswalk linksComputer and Information Systems ManagersSOC 11-3021 · 1 crosswalk linksDatabase ArchitectsSOC 15-1243 · 1 crosswalk linksSoftware DevelopersSOC 15-1252 · 1 crosswalk linksWeb and Digital Interface DesignersSOC 15-1255 · 1 crosswalk links
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 | University of Massachusetts-LowellAssociate's Degree | Lowell, MA | $75,423 | $17,355 | +145% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | University of Cincinnati-Main CampusAssociate's Degree | Cincinnati, OH | $75,248 | $13,125 | +114% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash CollegeAssociate's Degree | Blue Ash, OH | $75,248 | $13,125 | +146% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-BarreAssociate's Degree | Dallas, PA | $69,394 | $24,788 | +98% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State ScrantonAssociate's Degree | Dunmore, PA | $69,394 | $24,788 | +94% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State BrandywineAssociate's Degree | Media, PA | $69,394 | $24,788 | +80% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State DuBoisAssociate's Degree | DuBois, PA | $69,394 | $24,788 | +95% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State HazletonAssociate's Degree | Hazleton, PA | $69,394 | $24,788 | +95% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusAssociate's Degree | University Park, PA | $69,394 | $24,788 | +57% | Positive payoff |
| 10 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Mont AltoAssociate's Degree | Mont Alto, PA | $69,394 | $24,788 | +89% | Positive payoff |
| 11 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State YorkAssociate's Degree | York, PA | $69,394 | $24,788 | +90% | Positive payoff |
| 12 | Pennsylvania State University-World CampusAssociate's Degree | University Park, PA | $69,394 | $24,788 | +89% | Positive payoff |
| 13 | Clayton State UniversityAssociate's Degree | Morrow, GA | $63,006 | $35,925 | +69% | Positive payoff |
| 14 | Northwest Mississippi Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Senatobia, MS | $62,032 | Not available | +61% | Positive payoff |
| 15 | Hudson Valley Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Troy, NY | $61,679 | $8,942 | +56% | Positive payoff |
| 16 | Cuyahoga Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | Cleveland, OH | $57,923 | $17,629 | +31% | Positive payoff |
| 17 | Ivy Tech Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Indianapolis, IN | $57,363 | $13,475 | +18% | Positive payoff |
| 18 | Genesee Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Batavia, NY | $52,975 | Not available | -25% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | ITI Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Baton Rouge, LA | $52,895 | $19,110 | -40% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | Niagara County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Sanborn, NY | $51,853 | Not available | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Florida Institute of TechnologyAssociate's Degree | Melbourne, FL | $51,539 | $26,875 | -59% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | Lake Land CollegeAssociate's Degree | Mattoon, IL | $50,071 | Not available | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | North Central Texas CollegeAssociate's Degree | Gainesville, TX | $49,136 | $12,000 | -60% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | Zane State CollegeAssociate's Degree | Zanesville, OH | $46,219 | $7,668 | -89% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | Onondaga Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Syracuse, NY | Not available | $11,555 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $8,562 |
| 26 | Florida Institute of Technology-OnlineAssociate's Degree | , | $51,539 | $26,875 | 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.