The results of the study suggest that the degree a student earns matters, but that
there are important variations in returns by program and by institution.
This report documents some of the differences in first-year earnings
ranging from certificate programs through master’s programs.
Among the findings are:
• Technical-oriented associate’s degree programs are helping many students successfully enter the labor market by
equipping them with skills that are in demand. On average, a year after
graduation, students with two-year technical degrees have first-year
median earnings of more than $50,000, just over $11,000 more than
graduates of bachelor’s degree programs across the state.
• Graduates with these two-year technical degrees earn, on average,
about $30,000 more than students who completed academically oriented
two-year degrees and are now in the labor force.
• Certificates are one of the fastest-growing credentials offered by
community colleges. The median first-year earnings of certificate
holders often exceed those of graduates from academic and technical
associate’s programs.
Locally, here's some numbers, broken down by the gender of the graduate, that shows the numbers of Associate Degrees among those age 25 or older in Herkimer and Oneida Counties.
 |
| Click to Enlarge |
