Associate+13% vs national median85 grads tracked
Engineering at Palo Alto College
Ranked 3rd of 104 associate programs in Engineering by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$38,377
middle 50%: $25,179 – $70,489
Median · 5 years out
$87,351
middle 50%: $56,524 – $110,004
Median · 10 years out
$99,460
middle 50%: $88,374 – $114,494
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Engineering (associate) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Graduates of Palo Alto College's associate program in Engineering earn a median $38,377 one year after graduating, rising to $99,460 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 13% above the national median of $77,430 for this field, ranking 3rd of 104 reporting programs.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
5.7 yrs
≈ $6,885 total interest
Same major at other universities
South Plains College
$90,582 · 5 yrs out
Greenfield Community College
$88,614 · 5 yrs out
Houston Community College
$87,244 · 5 yrs out
College Of DuPage
$87,221 · 5 yrs out
Quinsigamond Community College
$86,929 · 5 yrs out
Indiana Institute of Technology
$86,367 · 5 yrs out
Housatonic Community College
$85,364 · 5 yrs out
Three Rivers Community College
$85,364 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Palo Alto College
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$64,834 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$62,224 · 5 yrs out
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services (Associate)
$58,998 · 5 yrs out
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs (Associate)
$56,877 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$56,272 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies (Associate)
$55,746 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Associate)
$55,746 · 5 yrs out
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services (Certificate)
$55,181 · 5 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate)
$54,286 · 5 yrs out
Marketing (Associate)
$53,921 · 5 yrs out
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Associate)
$53,793 · 5 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Associate)
$53,094 · 5 yrs out
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