Information Science/Studies at Monroe Community College
NY · Associate's Degree · CIP 11.04
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Information Science/Studies degree from Monroe Community College earn a median salary of $59,712 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in NY, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $45,236. The degree typically pays for itself in 8.4 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$42,596
Typical Career
$59,712
Top Performers
$81,318
Estimated break-even: 8.4 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$398
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,976. Most students can comfortably afford about a $398 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.5x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.8x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in New York buys what costs $1.32 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, Retail Trade.
Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$45,236
Nominal: $59,712 in New York (COL 132.0% of national avg) · 24.2% lower purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $28,165 | $41,964 | $60,342 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $42,596 | $59,712 | $81,318 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $52,536 | $75,281 | $95,933 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $59,712 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in NY, which has a cost-of-living index of 132.0% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $59,712 × (1.0 ÷ 1.3200)
= $45,236 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The top industries for graduates are predominantly in Health Care & Social Assistance, accounting for 26.1% and 26.0% of employment, followed by Public Administration at 24.5%. The estimated break-even point for graduates compared to individuals with only a high school diploma is approximately 8.4 years, suggesting that the investment in education yields a favorable return over time. Overall, the combination of solid earnings growth and strong industry placement indicates a positive return on investment for students pursuing this field.
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Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.