Military Applied Sciences: is it worth it?
A 0–100 score blending this major’s national earnings, ROI and typical debt. How it’s scored.
National picture across 2 college programs, at a typical net price.
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
What Military Applied Sciences pays
Career outlook for Military Applied Sciences graduates
The job market for the occupations Military Applied Sciences graduates typically enter, projected through 2034 — from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This is the demand side, complementing the IRS-verified graduate earnings above.
Top jobs for this major
| Occupation | U.S. jobs | Growth to 2034 | Median pay | Typical entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other | 67,300 | +1.5% | $77,390 | Associate's degree |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections (2024–34) & the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupation pay is the national median wage for the role — not the same as graduate earnings, which we draw from IRS records.
Military Applied Sciences vs similar majors
How Military Applied Sciences stacks up against the closest fields in Military Technologies on pay, debt, ROI and the DR Rating. The best figure in each row is highlighted.
| Military Applied Sciences Military Technologies · this major | Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations | Military Technologies and Applied Sciences, Other | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DR Rating | 46 D | 81 A | 80 A |
| ROI verdict | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $58,787 | $76,093 | $74,586 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | — | $57,724 | $75,492 |
| ROI vs cost | +92% | +288% | +311% |
| Typical debt | — | $22,528 | — |
| Colleges offering it | 2 | 7 | 1 |
Military Applied Sciences earnings over time
National median earnings one year after graduating, by cohort year — the consistent measure available across the federal data’s history.
Best colleges for Military Applied Sciences
Ranked by the ROI of this major at each college — its graduate earnings against the cost.
| # | College | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Arizona Global Campus Chandler, AZ | Certificate | $67,424 | — | +617% | Strong return |
| 2 | The University of Arizona Global Campus Chandler, AZ | Associate's | $50,150 | — | -18% | Poor return |
Related majors
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.