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 $96,677 five years after graduation with $13,009 in median debt. The typical associate program pays $50,170 at year five.
Key Facts
- #1 associate degree: Physical Science Technologies/Technicians
- Its year-5 earnings: $96,677
- Median associate program, year 5: $50,170
- Fields ranked: 68
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Downloads reflect the processed dataset used on this page.
Top 15 associate degrees by earnings 5 years after graduation
Healthcare and technical fields lead
Our analysis finds the top associate degree pays 93% 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 | $63,523 | $96,677 | $13,009 | 20.5% | $56,524 | 16 |
| 2. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $75,929 | $82,778 | $31,417 | 41.4% | $42,625 | 963 |
| 3. Fire Protection | $71,279 | $82,454 | $10,058 | 14.1% | $42,301 | 16 |
| 4. Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | $71,143 | $75,529 | $13,375 | 18.8% | $35,376 | 29 |
| 5. Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians | $62,462 | $75,034 | $12,100 | 19.4% | $34,881 | 55 |
| 6. Computer Science | $43,660 | $74,971 | $12,000 | 27.5% | $34,818 | 12 |
| 7. Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $62,185 | $73,997 | $15,000 | 24.1% | $33,844 | 37 |
| 8. Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | $49,417 | $73,891 | $18,023 | 36.5% | $33,738 | 64 |
| 9. Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $60,273 | $73,848 | $18,893 | 31.3% | $33,695 | 19 |
| 10. Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | $54,023 | $68,549 | $12,315 | 22.8% | $28,396 | 12 |
| 11. Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians | $65,270 | $68,284 | $12,000 | 18.4% | $28,131 | 24 |
| 12. Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $64,606 | $68,088 | $26,969 | 41.7% | $27,935 | 589 |
| 13. Information Science/Studies | $49,860 | $67,465 | $16,053 | 32.2% | $27,312 | 17 |
| 14. Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $47,902 | $65,334 | $20,000 | 41.8% | $25,181 | 12 |
| 15. Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | $66,896 | $63,856 | $22,997 | 34.4% | $23,703 | 215 |
| 16. Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | $47,922 | $62,676 | $16,000 | 33.4% | $22,523 | 158 |
| 17. Computer Programming | $49,036 | $62,095 | $14,965 | 30.5% | $21,942 | 39 |
| 18. Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $51,291 | $60,761 | $12,841 | 25.0% | $20,608 | 27 |
| 19. Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | $57,680 | $60,679 | $25,469 | 44.2% | $20,526 | 28 |
| 20. Computer and Information Sciences, General | $49,969 | $60,564 | $30,120 | 60.3% | $20,411 | 93 |
| 21. Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications | $50,027 | $59,326 | $27,625 | 55.2% | $19,173 | 54 |
| 22. Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $51,863 | $59,113 | $20,000 | 38.6% | $18,960 | 66 |
| 23. Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | $50,024 | $58,826 | $12,000 | 24.0% | $18,673 | 21 |
| 24. Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $47,494 | $58,782 | $22,633 | 47.7% | $18,629 | 118 |
| 25. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | $45,853 | $58,442 | $12,000 | 26.2% | $18,289 | 40 |
All 68 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 | $63,523 | $96,677 | $13,009 | 20.5% | 16 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $75,929 | $82,778 | $31,417 | 41.4% | 963 |
| Fire Protection | $71,279 | $82,454 | $10,058 | 14.1% | 16 |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | $71,143 | $75,529 | $13,375 | 18.8% | 29 |
| Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians | $62,462 | $75,034 | $12,100 | 19.4% | 55 |
| Computer Science | $43,660 | $74,971 | $12,000 | 27.5% | 12 |
| Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $62,185 | $73,997 | $15,000 | 24.1% | 37 |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | $49,417 | $73,891 | $18,023 | 36.5% | 64 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $60,273 | $73,848 | $18,893 | 31.3% | 19 |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | $54,023 | $68,549 | $12,315 | 22.8% | 12 |
| Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians | $65,270 | $68,284 | $12,000 | 18.4% | 24 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $64,606 | $68,088 | $26,969 | 41.7% | 589 |
| Information Science/Studies | $49,860 | $67,465 | $16,053 | 32.2% | 17 |
| Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $47,902 | $65,334 | $20,000 | 41.8% | 12 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | $66,896 | $63,856 | $22,997 | 34.4% | 215 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | $47,922 | $62,676 | $16,000 | 33.4% | 158 |
| Computer Programming | $49,036 | $62,095 | $14,965 | 30.5% | 39 |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $51,291 | $60,761 | $12,841 | 25.0% | 27 |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | $57,680 | $60,679 | $25,469 | 44.2% | 28 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $49,969 | $60,564 | $30,120 | 60.3% | 93 |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications | $50,027 | $59,326 | $27,625 | 55.2% | 54 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $51,863 | $59,113 | $20,000 | 38.6% | 66 |
| Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | $50,024 | $58,826 | $12,000 | 24.0% | 21 |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $47,494 | $58,782 | $22,633 | 47.7% | 118 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | $45,853 | $58,442 | $12,000 | 26.2% | 40 |
| Precision Metal Working | $49,355 | $57,582 | $12,000 | 24.3% | 47 |
| Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services | $43,371 | $55,858 | $12,000 | 27.7% | 10 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $40,285 | $54,607 | $17,918 | 44.5% | 56 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $41,774 | $54,480 | $24,875 | 59.5% | 155 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | $33,133 | $54,219 | $9,500 | 28.7% | 43 |
| Funeral Service and Mortuary Science | $43,465 | $53,103 | $21,562 | 49.6% | 31 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $47,247 | $52,996 | $27,763 | 58.8% | 31 |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | $35,250 | $52,497 | $26,497 | 75.2% | 20 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $44,699 | $51,931 | $13,062 | 29.2% | 21 |
| Data Processing | $38,963 | $51,384 | $13,225 | 33.9% | 11 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $40,563 | $51,342 | $23,553 | 58.1% | 395 |
| Biology, General | $33,353 | $50,318 | $12,000 | 36.0% | 25 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $49,340 | $50,192 | $11,349 | 23.0% | 10 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $42,345 | $49,750 | $22,150 | 52.3% | 155 |
| Public Health | $37,907 | $49,175 | $30,117 | 79.4% | 15 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $30,638 | $48,226 | $13,058 | 42.6% | 11 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $39,445 | $47,925 | $21,070 | 53.4% | 276 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $34,772 | $47,675 | $11,000 | 31.6% | 806 |
| Legal Support Services | $40,921 | $45,759 | $24,621 | 60.2% | 85 |
| Social Sciences, General | $34,275 | $45,604 | $9,500 | 27.7% | 17 |
| Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | $38,472 | $45,234 | $20,000 | 52.0% | 101 |
| Marketing | $42,568 | $44,597 | $21,900 | 51.4% | 23 |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | $36,792 | $44,520 | $14,137 | 38.4% | 74 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $36,002 | $44,202 | $14,250 | 39.6% | 10 |
| Education, General | $26,058 | $43,763 | $11,000 | 42.2% | 10 |
| Social Work | $32,863 | $43,256 | $14,625 | 44.5% | 10 |
| Business Operations Support and Assistant Services | $40,968 | $42,762 | $17,193 | 42.0% | 43 |
| Psychology, General | $31,134 | $42,084 | $11,000 | 35.3% | 47 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | $38,836 | $41,940 | $17,001 | 43.8% | 35 |
| Human Services, General | $29,435 | $41,804 | $28,277 | 96.1% | 41 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | $41,132 | $41,746 | $25,250 | 61.4% | 452 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $37,388 | $41,664 | $10,375 | 27.7% | 20 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $33,915 | $41,206 | $14,339 | 42.3% | 89 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $32,464 | $40,860 | $25,250 | 77.8% | 94 |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | $30,878 | $39,967 | $16,500 | 53.4% | 16 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $36,094 | $39,425 | $23,762 | 65.8% | 247 |
| Graphic Communications | $27,462 | $38,294 | $11,565 | 42.1% | 17 |
| Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians | $31,786 | $37,670 | $20,250 | 63.7% | 18 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $30,058 | $36,127 | $22,706 | 75.5% | 57 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $26,322 | $35,716 | $12,000 | 45.6% | 14 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | $24,015 | $35,395 | $12,000 | 50.0% | 19 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | $30,071 | $35,076 | $15,788 | 52.5% | 10 |
| Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services | $31,784 | $33,042 | $31,427 | 98.9% | 11 |
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 $96,677 five years after graduation and $13,009 in median federal debt, based on College Scorecard data.
How much does an associate degree pay?
The median associate program pays $46,373 one year after graduation and $50,170 after five years.
Is an associate degree worth it?
For top fields, clearly: Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing pays $82,778 at year five. The median associate program pays $10,017 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+)