However, a community college degree in a STEM field has the potential to bring in an average starting salary comparable to what a graduate of a four-year program can earn. For example, Diverse Education also reports that an entry-level aerospace engineering professional can earn an average annual salary of $58,000 with a two-year degree, which may be even more than the entry-level salaries of a four-year graduate.
As focus shifts to community colleges for fulfilling STEM needs of the 21st century, attitudes and stigmas involving two-year schools are also changing. These post-secondary institutions are becoming viable alternatives to a quality STEM education and a lucrative career.