Psychology, General: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 124 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$170,610 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.
—Modeled economic break-even
−160%Modeled 10-year ROI
$38,612Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$38,612Median reported earnings · year 4
$36,139Average reported earnings · year 5
$11,198Median federal debt
20thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
124Reporting programs
117With 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
- $47,847
- Federal debt
- $22,255
- Reporting programs
- 4
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $38,612
- Federal debt
- $11,198
- Reporting programs
- 124
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $49,960
- Federal debt
- $25,716
- Reporting programs
- 1,139
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $67,973
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 92
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $96,534
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 39
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $65,990
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $55,763
- 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.
Median
25th percentile$35,527National median$38,61275th percentile$42,174
117 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1Cañada College$67,0152Foothill College$55,6943Nelson University$54,7504Gavilan College$54,5855City College of San Francisco$52,2146University of Cincinnati-Main Campus$49,8537University of Cincinnati-Clermont College$49,8538University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash College$49,8539College of San Mateo$49,70810Reedley College$49,535Observed 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.
Clinical and Counseling PsychologistsSOC 19-3033 · 1 crosswalk linksIndustrial-Organizational PsychologistsSOC 19-3032 · 1 crosswalk linksManagers, All OtherSOC 11-9199 · 1 crosswalk linksPsychologists, All OtherSOC 19-3039 · 1 crosswalk linksPsychology Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1066 · 1 crosswalk linksSocial Science Research AssistantsSOC 19-4061 · 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 | Cañada CollegeAssociate's Degree | Redwood City, CA | $67,015 | Not available | +144% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Foothill CollegeAssociate's Degree | Los Altos Hills, CA | $55,694 | $5,500 | +2% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | Nelson UniversityAssociate's Degree | Waxahachie, TX | $54,750 | Not available | -27% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | Gavilan CollegeAssociate's Degree | Gilroy, CA | $54,585 | Not available | -7% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | City College of San FranciscoAssociate's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $52,214 | Not available | -31% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | University of Cincinnati-Main CampusAssociate's Degree | Cincinnati, OH | $49,853 | $17,999 | -66% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | University of Cincinnati-Clermont CollegeAssociate's Degree | Batavia, OH | $49,853 | $17,999 | -59% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash CollegeAssociate's Degree | Blue Ash, OH | $49,853 | $17,999 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | College of San MateoAssociate's Degree | San Mateo, CA | $49,708 | Not available | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Reedley CollegeAssociate's Degree | Reedley, CA | $49,535 | Not available | -56% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | Empire State UniversityAssociate's Degree | Saratoga Springs, NY | $48,810 | Not available | -66% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Mission CollegeAssociate's Degree | Santa Clara, CA | $48,667 | Not available | -63% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | San Diego Mesa CollegeAssociate's Degree | San Diego, CA | $48,650 | $7,597 | -64% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | Diablo Valley CollegeAssociate's Degree | Pleasant Hill, CA | $48,309 | $7,110 | -69% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | Skyline CollegeAssociate's Degree | San Bruno, CA | $47,301 | Not available | -75% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | CUNY LaGuardia Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Long Island City, NY | $46,131 | $8,272 | -89% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Trinity Valley Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Athens, TX | $45,926 | Not available | -91% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | Santa Rosa Junior CollegeAssociate's Degree | Santa Rosa, CA | $45,473 | Not available | -95% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | Evergreen Valley CollegeAssociate's Degree | San Jose, CA | $45,179 | Not available | -98% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | Harrisburg Area Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Harrisburg, PA | $44,652 | $17,250 | -103% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Rockland Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Suffern, NY | $44,186 | $11,000 | -107% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | Utah Valley UniversityAssociate's Degree | Orem, UT | $43,945 | $6,500 | -110% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | East Los Angeles CollegeAssociate's Degree | Monterey Park, CA | $43,675 | Not available | -112% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | Las Positas CollegeAssociate's Degree | Livermore, CA | $42,894 | Not available | -121% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | Shasta CollegeAssociate's Degree | Redding, CA | $42,847 | Not available | -122% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | Pasadena City CollegeAssociate's Degree | Pasadena, CA | $42,700 | $12,000 | -124% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | Central New Mexico Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Albuquerque, NM | $42,666 | $8,858 | -124% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | Solano Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Fairfield, CA | $42,301 | Not available | -127% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | Victor Valley CollegeAssociate's Degree | Victorville, CA | $42,197 | Not available | -130% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | College of the CanyonsAssociate's Degree | Santa Clarita, CA | $42,174 | $7,177 | -129% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | Southwestern CollegeAssociate's Degree | Chula Vista, CA | $41,995 | $12,500 | -126% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | Lake Tahoe Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | South Lake Tahoe, CA | $41,792 | Not available | -130% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | Bucks County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Newtown, PA | $41,441 | $8,782 | -135% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | Community College of PhiladelphiaAssociate's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $41,375 | $13,838 | -132% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | Butte CollegeAssociate's Degree | Oroville, CA | $41,185 | Not available | -138% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | West Valley CollegeAssociate's Degree | Saratoga, CA | $41,180 | Not available | -139% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | Santiago Canyon CollegeAssociate's Degree | Orange, CA | $41,112 | Not available | -141% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | Western Wyoming Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Rock Springs, WY | $41,096 | Not available | -138% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | Oklahoma City Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Oklahoma City, OK | $40,978 | $12,319 | -140% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | New York, NY | $40,967 | $6,416 | -140% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | Bunker Hill Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Boston, MA | $40,918 | $9,500 | -139% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | Austin Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | Austin, TX | $40,744 | $13,956 | -141% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | Chaffey CollegeAssociate's Degree | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | $40,641 | Not available | -143% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | Tyler Junior CollegeAssociate's Degree | Tyler, TX | $40,517 | $17,239 | -141% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | Mt San Antonio CollegeAssociate's Degree | Walnut, CA | $40,348 | $5,500 | -145% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | Modesto Junior CollegeAssociate's Degree | Modesto, CA | $40,301 | $6,757 | -149% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | Santa Ana CollegeAssociate's Degree | Santa Ana, CA | $40,262 | Not available | -149% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | Orange Coast CollegeAssociate's Degree | Costa Mesa, CA | $40,152 | Not available | -146% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | Barstow Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Barstow, CA | $40,147 | Not available | -142% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | Glendale Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Glendale, CA | $40,060 | Not available | -146% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | Navarro CollegeAssociate's Degree | Corsicana, TX | $39,860 | $14,750 | -143% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | Lansing Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Lansing, MI | $39,665 | $11,740 | -153% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | Sacramento City CollegeAssociate's Degree | Sacramento, CA | $39,363 | Not available | -155% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | College of the DesertAssociate's Degree | Palm Desert, CA | $39,201 | $5,500 | -148% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | Northwest Vista CollegeAssociate's Degree | San Antonio, TX | $38,903 | $9,047 | -162% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | South Plains CollegeAssociate's Degree | Levelland, TX | $38,888 | Not available | -159% | Negative payoff |
| 57 | Bakersfield CollegeAssociate's Degree | Bakersfield, CA | $38,723 | Not available | -153% | Negative payoff |
| 58 | San Joaquin Delta CollegeAssociate's Degree | Stockton, CA | $38,679 | Not available | -167% | Negative payoff |
| 59 | Monroe Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Rochester, NY | $38,612 | $8,875 | -162% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | Antelope Valley Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | Lancaster, CA | $38,497 | $10,250 | -167% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | Salt Lake Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Salt Lake City, UT | $38,455 | $8,432 | -160% | Negative payoff |
| 62 | Long Beach City CollegeAssociate's Degree | Long Beach, CA | $38,437 | Not available | -164% | Negative payoff |
| 63 | Rose State CollegeAssociate's Degree | Midwest City, OK | $38,415 | $16,000 | -158% | Negative payoff |
| 64 | Cosumnes River CollegeAssociate's Degree | Sacramento, CA | $38,333 | Not available | -165% | Negative payoff |
| 65 | Butler County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Butler, PA | $38,333 | Not available | -165% | Negative payoff |
| 66 | Fresno City CollegeAssociate's Degree | Fresno, CA | $37,766 | $7,802 | -168% | Negative payoff |
| 67 | Delaware County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Media, PA | $37,761 | $17,500 | -170% | Negative payoff |
| 68 | San Diego City CollegeAssociate's Degree | San Diego, CA | $37,754 | $10,575 | -168% | Negative payoff |
| 69 | Amarillo CollegeAssociate's Degree | Amarillo, TX | $37,684 | $18,503 | -174% | Negative payoff |
| 70 | Lemoore CollegeAssociate's Degree | Lemoore, CA | $37,572 | $8,000 | -167% | Negative payoff |
| 71 | Colorado Christian UniversityAssociate's Degree | Lakewood, CO | $37,517 | $35,750 | -150% | Negative payoff |
| 72 | College of Southern NevadaAssociate's Degree | Las Vegas, NV | $37,489 | $6,450 | -173% | Negative payoff |
| 73 | Laramie County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Cheyenne, WY | $37,262 | $12,000 | -174% | Negative payoff |
| 74 | Liberty UniversityAssociate's Degree | Lynchburg, VA | $37,200 | $30,949 | -152% | Negative payoff |
| 75 | Clovis Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Fresno, CA | $37,200 | Not available | -179% | Negative payoff |
| 76 | Merced CollegeAssociate's Degree | Merced, CA | $37,188 | $6,849 | -178% | Negative payoff |
| 77 | Hartnell CollegeAssociate's Degree | Salinas, CA | $36,100 | Not available | -195% | Negative payoff |
| 78 | Coalinga CollegeAssociate's Degree | Coalinga, CA | $35,792 | $8,000 | -183% | Negative payoff |
| 79 | Connecticut State Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | New Britain, CT | $35,527 | Not available | -184% | Negative payoff |
| 80 | Sierra CollegeAssociate's Degree | Rocklin, CA | $35,461 | Not available | -191% | Negative payoff |
| 81 | Community College of Allegheny CountyAssociate's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $35,110 | $14,113 | -184% | Negative payoff |
| 82 | Itawamba Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Fulton, MS | $35,109 | Not available | -200% | Negative payoff |
| 83 | Mt Hood Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Gresham, OR | $35,075 | Not available | -194% | Negative payoff |
| 84 | Riverside City CollegeAssociate's Degree | Riverside, CA | $35,005 | $5,500 | -194% | Negative payoff |
| 85 | Los Medanos CollegeAssociate's Degree | Pittsburg, CA | $34,899 | Not available | -196% | Negative payoff |
| 86 | East Georgia State CollegeAssociate's Degree | Swainsboro, GA | $34,538 | $16,750 | -196% | Negative payoff |
| 87 | Pennsylvania Highlands Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Johnstown, PA | $34,272 | Not available | -205% | Negative payoff |
| 88 | Georgia Military CollegeAssociate's Degree | Milledgeville, GA | $34,197 | $11,198 | -187% | Negative payoff |
| 89 | El Paso Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | El Paso, TX | $34,065 | $5,400 | -213% | Negative payoff |
| 90 | Imperial Valley CollegeAssociate's Degree | Imperial, CA | $33,364 | Not available | -226% | Negative payoff |
| 91 | College of the SequoiasAssociate's Degree | Visalia, CA | $32,906 | Not available | -233% | Negative payoff |
| 92 | Sinclair Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Dayton, OH | $32,867 | $13,661 | -219% | Negative payoff |
| 93 | Laredo CollegeAssociate's Degree | Laredo, TX | $32,487 | Not available | -223% | Negative payoff |
| 94 | Prairie State CollegeAssociate's Degree | Chicago Heights, IL | $32,438 | Not available | -226% | Negative payoff |
| 95 | Lehigh Carbon Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Schnecksville, PA | $32,159 | $13,750 | -218% | Negative payoff |
| 96 | Holmes Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Goodman, MS | $31,771 | $7,250 | -231% | Negative payoff |
| 97 | San Antonio CollegeAssociate's Degree | San Antonio, TX | $31,464 | Not available | -236% | Negative payoff |
| 98 | Owens Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Perrysburg, OH | $31,041 | $23,441 | -226% | Negative payoff |
| 99 | College of Western IdahoAssociate's Degree | Nampa, ID | $30,970 | $11,500 | -231% | Negative payoff |
| 100 | South Texas CollegeAssociate's Degree | McAllen, TX | $30,857 | $7,743 | -251% | Negative 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.