What a certificate or associate degree actually pays

388 programs at US community and technical colleges — what they cost, what graduates earn where the Department of Education publishes it, and what the work pays everywhere it does not.

Program	Schools	States
Business Administration, Management and Operations	2,452	59
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services	2,372	53
Health and Medical Administrative Services	2,281	51
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities	2,111	58
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions	2,092	51
Criminal Justice and Corrections	2,010	57
Accounting and Related Services	1,938	59
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services	1,921	51
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services	1,649	55
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians	1,617	55
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants	1,547	56
Precision Metal Working	1,540	52
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing	1,466	57
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management	1,364	54
Computer and Information Sciences, General	1,308	55
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services	1,286	49
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods	1,190	58
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions	1,105	52
Design and Applied Arts	1,096	53
Culinary Arts and Related Services	1,069	52
Legal Support Services	1,011	51
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians	979	51
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)	976	52
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions	915	52
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers	901	51
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications	883	52
Computer Software and Media Applications	863	48
Computer Programming	850	48
Business/Commerce, General	841	54
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians	819	48
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians	805	53
Fire Protection	797	52
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions	792	52
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians	782	50
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations	744	51
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness	725	48
Hospitality Administration/Management	713	56
Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services	659	49
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians	620	52
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians	592	46
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection	583	49
Fine and Studio Arts	579	48
Marketing	571	51
Engineering, General	543	43
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General	541	50
Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians	538	50
Music	526	48
Graphic Communications	502	40
Biology, General	482	45
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians	479	41
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services	468	45
Communication and Media Studies	467	43
Human Services, General	457	45
Film/Video and Photographic Arts	425	45
Psychology, General	425	43
Agricultural Business and Management	417	47
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations	411	42
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft	398	45
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians	395	49
Computer Science	393	47
Geography and Cartography	392	42
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians	392	45
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication	385	44
Human Resources Management and Services	378	49
Natural Resources Conservation and Research	375	48
Carpenters	369	44
Ground Transportation	361	46
Agricultural Production Operations	360	44
Security Science and Technology	360	46
Mathematics	359	41
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other	355	46
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas	347	47
English Language and Literature, General	340	41
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians	316	43
History	314	39
Visual and Performing Arts, General	314	42
Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians	309	43
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General	308	39
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs	308	46
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies	299	45
Teaching Assistants/Aides	299	42
Chemistry	296	36
Social Work	291	44
Finance and Financial Management Services	288	46
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	287	41
American Sign Language	282	39
Sociology	276	33
Political Science and Government	270	39
Education, General	269	51
Public Health	267	46
Air Transportation	261	47
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies	255	43
Special Education and Teaching	255	43
Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services	253	44
Homeland Security	246	46
Real Estate	246	25
Management Information Systems and Services	241	43
Biological and Physical Sciences	221	24
Social Sciences, General	221	39
Information Science/Studies	216	41
Physics	216	31
Journalism	211	34
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services	206	43
Data Processing	201	32
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians	192	42
Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians	189	44
Economics	188	38
Data Entry/Microcomputer Applications	185	26
Philosophy	185	33
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication	179	39
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services	178	26
Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations	178	34
Construction Trades, General	172	35
Bible/Biblical Studies	171	39
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences	169	29
Anthropology	165	25
Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians	159	43
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician	158	32
Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies	158	30
Religion/Religious Studies	156	33
Agriculture, General	155	37
Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians	151	31
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other	144	35
International Business	142	33
Physical Sciences, General	142	21
Physical Science Technologies/Technicians	140	33
Dance	135	24
Non-Professional Legal Studies	135	35
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians	133	37
Architectural Sciences and Technology	132	19
Construction Management	128	38
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other	128	23
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions	128	36
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General	127	35
Food Science and Technology	125	28
Area Studies	123	35
Forestry	118	36
Agricultural Mechanization	117	26
Theological and Ministerial Studies	117	36
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods	114	34
Biotechnology	113	31
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language	113	39
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management	112	34
Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions	109	31
Woodworking	108	29
Plant Sciences	107	29
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other	106	30
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services	106	34
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science	105	36
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other	101	31
Animal Sciences	98	33
Apparel and Textiles	98	16
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other	92	29
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy	90	38
Computer Systems Analysis	88	22
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering	88	28
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries	87	28
Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services	83	30
Community Organization and Advocacy	83	23
International/Globalization Studies	83	32
Gerontology	82	31
Science Technologies/Technicians, Other	81	18
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology	80	30
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management	80	26
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians, Other	79	25
Mining and Petroleum Technologies/Technicians	78	21
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	76	21
Educational Administration and Supervision	75	26
Insurance	73	25
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services	72	23
Education, Other	70	27
Data Analytics	69	32
Sustainability Studies	69	29
Mason/Masonry	68	23
Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering	68	23
Public Administration	67	29
Library and Archives Assisting	65	20
Construction Trades, Other	64	22
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies	64	18
Natural Sciences	63	22
Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians	61	26
Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies	59	29
Communications Technologies/Technicians	57	18
Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other	57	15
Mechanical Engineering	54	18
Educational/Instructional Media Design	53	26
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	53	21
Computer Engineering	50	28
Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology	50	22
International Relations and National Security Studies	49	19
Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems	48	18
Behavioral Sciences	46	20
Data Science	45	20
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management	43	22
Engineering Science	41	11
Taxation	41	11
Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs	39	18
Medical Illustration and Informatics	39	19
Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other	38	22
Astronomy and Astrophysics	38	8
Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations	37	23
Agricultural and Food Products Processing	36	15
Civil Engineering	36	18
Literature	36	12
Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education	34	22
Marine Transportation	34	15
Religious Music and Worship	33	15
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other	32	13
Chemical Engineering	32	12
Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities	31	20
Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians	31	15
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration	31	22
Theology and Religious Vocations, Other	30	21
Visual and Performing Arts, Other	30	13
Basic Skills and Developmental/Remedial Education	29	11
Engineering-Related Fields	29	16
Religious Education	29	18
American Indian/Native American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	28	13
Archeology	28	15
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology	28	9
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology	28	18
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other	28	13
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other	27	13
Criminology	27	17
Social Sciences, Other	27	16
Applied Mathematics	26	16
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General	26	11
Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	26	13
Outdoor Education	26	15
Engineering, Other	25	16
Mechanics and Repairers, General	25	15
Architecture	24	8
Historic Preservation and Conservation	24	16
Legal Professions and Studies, Other	24	16
Precision Production, Other	24	12
Statistics	24	16
Nanotechnology	23	11
Business/Corporate Communications	22	18
Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Services, Other	22	9
Psychology, Other	22	11
English Language and Literature/Letters, Other	21	8
Industrial Engineering	21	15
Museology/Museum Studies	21	14
Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	21	10
Manufacturing Engineering	20	11
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology	19	6
Nuclear Engineering Technology/Technician	18	13
Research and Experimental Psychology	18	11
Energy Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians	17	9
Leisure and Recreational Activities	17	12
Second Language Learning	17	10
Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry	16	10
Dispute Resolution	16	13
Movement and Mind-Body Therapies and Education	16	11
Nutrition Sciences	16	9
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology, Other	16	9
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution	16	13
Public Policy Analysis	16	12
Science Technologies/Technicians, General	16	13
Surveying Engineering	16	8
Agricultural Public Services	15	11
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology	15	13
Biomedical/Medical Engineering	15	13
Landscape Architecture	15	7
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies	15	10
Zoology/Animal Biology	15	10
Computational Science	14	9
Materials Engineering	14	10
Curriculum and Instruction	13	9
Leatherworking and Upholstery	13	8
Neurobiology and Neurosciences	13	9
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences	13	7
Precision Production Trades, General	13	9
Science, Technology and Society	13	11
Student Counseling and Personnel Services	13	11
Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences	13	6
Business/Managerial Economics	12	11
Housing and Human Environments	12	11
Library Science and Administration	12	10
Marine Sciences	12	12
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering	11	8
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	11	10
Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services, Other	11	7
Health-Related Knowledge and Skills	11	7
Human Computer Interaction	11	10
City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning	10	8
Environmental Design	10	8
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services	10	7
Philosophy and Religious Studies, General	10	8
Alternative and Complementary Medical Support Services	9	6
Engineering Mechanics	9	5
Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management	9	7
Mathematics and Computer Science	9	8
Medieval and Renaissance Studies	9	6
Military Technologies and Applied Sciences, Other	9	7
Physical Sciences, Other	9	5
Publishing	9	7
Soil Sciences	9	8
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering	8	5
Natural Resources and Conservation, Other	8	7
Urban Studies/Affairs	8	5
Accounting and Computer Science	7	6
Agricultural Engineering	7	4
Architecture and Related Services, Other	7	7
Botany/Plant Biology	7	5
Digital Humanities and Textual Studies	7	5
Geography and Environmental Studies	7	6
Interior Architecture	7	5
Mathematics and Statistics, Other	7	7
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology	7	5
Nursing	7	3
Systems Engineering	7	6
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences	6	5
Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis	6	5
Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies	6	5
Medicine	6	5
Military Applied Sciences	6	5
Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education	6	5
Transportation and Materials Moving, Other	6	6
Boilermaking/Boilermaker	5	4
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences	5	5
Classical and Ancient Studies	5	3
Energy and Biologically Based Therapies	5	4
Genetics	5	5
Library Science, Other	5	4
Architectural History, Criticism, and Conservation	4	3
Biological/Biosystems Engineering	4	4
Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research	4	4
Energy Systems Engineering	4	3
Human Biology	4	4
International Agriculture	4	4
Military Systems and Maintenance Technology	4	3
Mining and Mineral Engineering	4	3
Sociology and Anthropology	4	4
Southeast Asian and Australasian/Pacific Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	4	3
Telecommunications Management	4	3
Chiropractic	3	3
Cognitive Science	3	3
Environmental Geosciences	3	3
High School/Secondary Certificate Programs	3	1
History and Political Science	3	2
International and Comparative Education	3	3
Materials Sciences	3	3
Operations Research	3	3
Petroleum Engineering	3	2
Radiology Residency/Fellowship Programs	3	3
Real Estate Development	3	3
Veterinary Administrative Services	3	3
Veterinary Medicine	3	3
Applied Statistics	2	2
Citizenship Activities	2	2
Community/Environmental/Socially-Engaged Art	2	2
Construction Engineering	2	2
Demography	2	2
Dentistry	2	2
Electromechanical Engineering	2	2
Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies	2	2
Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering	2	1
Nuclear Engineering	2	2
Pharmacology and Toxicology	2	2
Philosophy, Politics, and Economics	2	2
Religious Institution Administration and Law	2	2
Security Policy and Strategy	2	1
Systems Science and Theory	2	2
Thanatology	2	2
Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies, Other	1	1
Biochemical Engineering	1	1
Biopsychology	1	1
Casino Operations and Services	1	1
Ceramic Sciences and Engineering	1	1
Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature	1	1
Engineering Physics	1	1
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, Other	1	1
Forest Engineering	1	1
Geoarcheaology	1	1
Geological/Geophysical Engineering	1	1
History and Language/Literature	1	1
Interpersonal and Social Skills	1	1
Law	1	1
Maritime Studies	1	1
Noncommercial Vehicle Operation	1	1
Optometry	1	1
Paper Science and Engineering	1	1
Personal Awareness and Self-Improvement	1	1
Philosophy and Religious Studies, Other	1	1
Polymer/Plastics Engineering	1	1
Textile Sciences and Engineering	1	1
Work and Family Studies	1	1

A dash under earnings or debt means the U.S. Department of Education has not published a figure for that program — it withholds any median computed from too few graduates, which covers about four of every five programs. It never means zero, and it says nothing about whether the program is any good. Where a figure is shown, the number of graduates behind it is shown with it.