Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services at Cuyahoga Community College
OH · Associate's Degree · CIP 51.18
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services degree from Cuyahoga Community College earn a median salary of $42,822 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in OH, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $47,527. The degree typically pays for itself in 12.6 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
$33,960
Typical Career
$42,822
Top Performers
$49,171
Estimated break-even: 12.6 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$285
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,569. Most students can comfortably afford about a $285 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.1x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.6x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Ohio buys what costs $0.90 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, Educational Services.
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
$47,527
Nominal: $42,822 in Ohio (COL 90.1% of national avg) · 11% higher 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 | $30,110 | $39,482 | $46,891 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $33,960 | $42,822 | $49,171 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $41,019 | $62,818 | $99,192 |
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 $42,822 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in OH, which has a cost-of-living index of 90.1% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $42,822 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9010)
= $47,527 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The majority of graduates find employment in the Health Care & Social Assistance sector, with 51.9% entering this field immediately after graduation. This trend continues, as 44.8% and 31.7% remain in the same industry over the following years. Considering the estimated break-even point of approximately 12.6 years compared to a high-school-only path, the return on investment for pursuing this program appears favorable, especially given the stability and growth potential within the health care sector.
Compare with Another School
See how the Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services degree at Cuyahoga Community College stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
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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.