Highest-ROI Associate Degree Programs (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Physical Science Technologies/Technicians is the highest-paying associate degree in EDsmart Data's analysis, at $103,271 five years after graduation with $11,959 in median debt. The typical associate program pays $44,862 at year five.
Key Facts
- #1 associate degree: Physical Science Technologies/Technicians
- Its year-5 earnings: $103,271
- Median associate program, year 5: $44,862
- Fields ranked: 66
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Top 15 associate degrees by earnings 5 years after graduation
Healthcare and technical fields lead
Our analysis finds the top associate degree pays 130% more than the median associate program at year five.
Fields with at least 10 programs reporting first-year earnings.
Top 25 highest-ROI associate degree programs
| Rank · Field | Year-1 earnings | Year-5 earnings | Median debt | Debt as % of year-1 pay | Year-5 pay vs HS median | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Physical Science Technologies/Technicians | $54,543 | $103,271 | $11,959 | 21.9% | $63,118 | 14 |
| 2. Fire Protection | $75,326 | $79,231 | $10,500 | 13.9% | $39,078 | 12 |
| 3. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $68,114 | $75,988 | $30,500 | 44.8% | $35,835 | 921 |
| 4. Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians | $58,261 | $72,827 | $13,000 | 22.3% | $32,674 | 58 |
| 5. Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | $42,278 | $70,793 | $15,500 | 36.7% | $30,640 | 48 |
| 6. Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | $56,633 | $69,943 | $12,000 | 21.2% | $29,790 | 34 |
| 7. Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $49,172 | $69,334 | $18,500 | 37.6% | $29,181 | 18 |
| 8. Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians | $55,282 | $68,015 | $12,000 | 21.7% | $27,862 | 29 |
| 9. Information Science/Studies | $51,734 | $66,641 | $24,788 | 47.9% | $26,488 | 19 |
| 10. Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $58,246 | $62,939 | $24,931 | 42.8% | $22,786 | 541 |
| 11. Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | $44,535 | $59,270 | $12,000 | 26.9% | $19,117 | 12 |
| 12. Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | $44,875 | $58,911 | $14,837 | 33.1% | $18,758 | 20 |
| 13. Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $42,475 | $58,429 | $13,750 | 32.4% | $18,276 | 10 |
| 14. Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications | $44,735 | $57,157 | $32,882 | 73.5% | $17,004 | 63 |
| 15. Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians | $41,814 | $57,085 | $20,225 | 48.4% | $16,932 | 12 |
| 16. Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | $56,024 | $56,290 | $22,615 | 40.4% | $16,137 | 195 |
| 17. Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | $51,744 | $56,146 | $20,594 | 39.8% | $15,993 | 25 |
| 18. Computer Programming | $39,098 | $56,031 | $18,262 | 46.7% | $15,878 | 29 |
| 19. Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $58,056 | $56,000 | $28,782 | 49.6% | $15,847 | 52 |
| 20. Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $44,988 | $55,016 | $13,500 | 30.0% | $14,863 | 31 |
| 21. Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | $39,458 | $54,733 | $17,389 | 44.1% | $14,580 | 146 |
| 22. Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $47,884 | $54,074 | $24,487 | 51.1% | $13,921 | 62 |
| 23. Management Information Systems and Services | $46,337 | $53,071 | $27,387 | 59.1% | $12,918 | 11 |
| 24. Precision Metal Working | $42,162 | $52,342 | $12,000 | 28.5% | $12,189 | 50 |
| 25. Computer and Information Sciences, General | $40,854 | $52,277 | $19,140 | 46.8% | $12,124 | 68 |
All 66 associate degree fields by 5-year earnings
| Field | Year-1 earnings | Year-5 earnings | Median debt | Debt as % of year-1 pay | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Science Technologies/Technicians | $54,543 | $103,271 | $11,959 | 21.9% | 14 |
| Fire Protection | $75,326 | $79,231 | $10,500 | 13.9% | 12 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $68,114 | $75,988 | $30,500 | 44.8% | 921 |
| Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians | $58,261 | $72,827 | $13,000 | 22.3% | 58 |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | $42,278 | $70,793 | $15,500 | 36.7% | 48 |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | $56,633 | $69,943 | $12,000 | 21.2% | 34 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $49,172 | $69,334 | $18,500 | 37.6% | 18 |
| Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians | $55,282 | $68,015 | $12,000 | 21.7% | 29 |
| Information Science/Studies | $51,734 | $66,641 | $24,788 | 47.9% | 19 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $58,246 | $62,939 | $24,931 | 42.8% | 541 |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | $44,535 | $59,270 | $12,000 | 26.9% | 12 |
| Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | $44,875 | $58,911 | $14,837 | 33.1% | 20 |
| Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $42,475 | $58,429 | $13,750 | 32.4% | 10 |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications | $44,735 | $57,157 | $32,882 | 73.5% | 63 |
| Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians | $41,814 | $57,085 | $20,225 | 48.4% | 12 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | $56,024 | $56,290 | $22,615 | 40.4% | 195 |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | $51,744 | $56,146 | $20,594 | 39.8% | 25 |
| Computer Programming | $39,098 | $56,031 | $18,262 | 46.7% | 29 |
| Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $58,056 | $56,000 | $28,782 | 49.6% | 52 |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $44,988 | $55,016 | $13,500 | 30.0% | 31 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | $39,458 | $54,733 | $17,389 | 44.1% | 146 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $47,884 | $54,074 | $24,487 | 51.1% | 62 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $46,337 | $53,071 | $27,387 | 59.1% | 11 |
| Precision Metal Working | $42,162 | $52,342 | $12,000 | 28.5% | 50 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $40,854 | $52,277 | $19,140 | 46.8% | 68 |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $40,282 | $51,570 | $23,137 | 57.4% | 94 |
| Funeral Service and Mortuary Science | $46,141 | $50,546 | $20,000 | 43.3% | 23 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | $40,861 | $50,235 | $19,000 | 46.5% | 31 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $32,798 | $50,045 | $13,313 | 40.6% | 40 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | $26,228 | $48,167 | $8,750 | 33.4% | 43 |
| Data Processing | $38,559 | $48,029 | $17,418 | 45.2% | 13 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $40,506 | $47,845 | $12,000 | 29.6% | 16 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $41,791 | $47,815 | $23,354 | 55.9% | 142 |
| Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions | $41,025 | $47,403 | $19,464 | 47.4% | 10 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $33,605 | $46,845 | $22,943 | 68.3% | 363 |
| Marketing | $39,617 | $45,589 | $22,546 | 56.9% | 18 |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | $26,596 | $45,584 | $13,149 | 49.4% | 15 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $37,209 | $44,860 | $23,823 | 64.0% | 116 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $37,079 | $44,546 | $14,014 | 37.8% | 29 |
| Biology, General | $26,835 | $44,084 | $11,005 | 41.0% | 16 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $40,006 | $43,898 | $26,536 | 66.3% | 23 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $32,807 | $43,457 | $19,125 | 58.3% | 294 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $28,357 | $42,236 | $11,149 | 39.3% | 781 |
| Agricultural Production Operations | $33,940 | $41,932 | $11,629 | 34.3% | 10 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $26,437 | $41,041 | $11,944 | 45.2% | 13 |
| Legal Support Services | $34,421 | $40,856 | $25,524 | 74.2% | 77 |
| Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | $36,090 | $40,691 | $12,999 | 36.0% | 114 |
| Social Sciences, General | $26,231 | $39,391 | $10,500 | 40.0% | 21 |
| Business Operations Support and Assistant Services | $28,691 | $38,490 | $20,000 | 69.7% | 49 |
| Public Health | $33,828 | $38,246 | $30,312 | 89.6% | 12 |
| Psychology, General | $25,832 | $37,449 | $12,319 | 47.7% | 34 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | $35,370 | $37,296 | $26,064 | 73.7% | 442 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | $31,072 | $37,198 | $18,043 | 58.1% | 35 |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | $27,514 | $36,778 | $14,745 | 53.6% | 80 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $29,715 | $36,586 | $14,250 | 48.0% | 82 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $30,013 | $36,266 | $24,250 | 80.8% | 236 |
| Graphic Communications | $23,932 | $35,881 | $11,678 | 48.8% | 13 |
| Human Services, General | $27,366 | $35,574 | $22,310 | 81.5% | 40 |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | $30,273 | $34,869 | $17,500 | 57.8% | 15 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $28,337 | $33,816 | $23,086 | 81.5% | 100 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $27,031 | $33,481 | $17,450 | 64.6% | 17 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $21,002 | $30,960 | $20,000 | 95.2% | 13 |
| Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians | $20,964 | $30,786 | $20,000 | 95.4% | 17 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $27,768 | $30,470 | $21,782 | 78.4% | 59 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $18,544 | $29,600 | $12,000 | 64.7% | 10 |
| Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services | $22,913 | $22,578 | $26,712 | 116.6% | 10 |
What the data shows
The best associate degrees lead directly to licensed or technical jobs, which is why healthcare and engineering technology fields crowd the top of the list.
Transfer-oriented associate degrees (liberal arts, general studies) rank low on early earnings because many graduates keep studying toward a bachelor's; their payoff shows up later.
Methodology
Program figures come from the College Scorecard field-of-study file: one record per institution × 4-digit CIP code × credential level. Earnings are median annual earnings of federal-aid recipients who completed the program and were working and not enrolled, measured 1, 4, and 5 years after completion (in the dollar year of the Scorecard release). Debt is the median federal loan balance (Stafford and Grad PLUS) at completion; private loans and Parent PLUS are excluded. Programs with too few graduates are suppressed by the Department of Education and drop out of each column.
When we summarize many programs, we take the median across programs weighted by the number of graduates in each program's earnings (or debt) cohort, so large programs count more than tiny ones.
Year-5 pay vs HS median compares year-5 earnings with the Census ACS 2024 median for high school graduates 25+ ($40,153).
Frequently asked questions
What associate degree has the highest ROI?
Physical Science Technologies/Technicians leads with median earnings of $103,271 five years after graduation and $11,959 in median federal debt, based on College Scorecard data.
How much does an associate degree pay?
The median associate program pays $39,410 one year after graduation and $44,862 after five years.
Is an associate degree worth it?
For top fields, clearly: Fire Protection pays $79,231 at year five. The median associate program pays $4,709 more than the Census median for high school graduates.
Data sources
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard institution and field-of-study files (latest release in our extract)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year, table B20004 (median earnings by educational attainment, age 25+)