Physical Science Technologies/Technicians: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 16 reporting college programs.
+$361,865 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.
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $69,543
- Federal debt
- $11,756
- Reporting programs
- 3
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $91,557
- Federal debt
- $11,417
- Reporting programs
- 16
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $69,253
- 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.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Lee College$126,1482San Jacinto Community College$111,6623Ashland Community and Technical College$103,6074College of the Mainland$101,5535Victoria College$99,6586Kilgore College$99,0177Del Mar College$98,1538Lamar State College-Orange$92,2949Lamar Institute of Technology$90,82010Wharton County Junior College$88,882Observed 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 | Lee CollegeAssociate's Degree | Baytown, TX | $126,148 | $9,598 | +682% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | San Jacinto Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Pasadena, TX | $111,662 | $10,000 | +483% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | Ashland Community and Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Ashland, KY | $103,607 | $10,867 | +478% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | College of the MainlandAssociate's Degree | Texas City, TX | $101,553 | $10,500 | +510% | Strong payoff |
| 5 | Victoria CollegeAssociate's Degree | Victoria, TX | $99,658 | Not available | +469% | Strong payoff |
| 6 | Kilgore CollegeAssociate's Degree | Kilgore, TX | $99,017 | $17,208 | +436% | Strong payoff |
| 7 | Del Mar CollegeAssociate's Degree | Corpus Christi, TX | $98,153 | $7,000 | +449% | Strong payoff |
| 8 | Lamar State College-OrangeAssociate's Degree | Orange, TX | $92,294 | $12,000 | +407% | Strong payoff |
| 9 | Lamar Institute of TechnologyAssociate's Degree | Beaumont, TX | $90,820 | $15,500 | +289% | Strong payoff |
| 10 | Wharton County Junior CollegeAssociate's Degree | Wharton, TX | $88,882 | $16,625 | +342% | Strong payoff |
| 11 | Texas State Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Waco, TX | $76,027 | $11,959 | +165% | Strong payoff |
| 12 | Houston City CollegeAssociate's Degree | Houston, TX | $74,124 | $21,740 | +187% | Strong payoff |
| 13 | Alvin Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Alvin, TX | $71,777 | $7,839 | +150% | Strong payoff |
| 14 | BridgeValley Community & Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | South Charleston, WV | $69,606 | Not available | +148% | Strong payoff |
| 15 | Weber State UniversityAssociate's Degree | Ogden, UT | $65,141 | $22,442 | +82% | Positive payoff |
| 16 | Seminole State College of FloridaAssociate's Degree | Sanford, FL | $59,780 | $10,875 | +37% | 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.