Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Atlanta Metropolitan State College

Atlanta Metropolitan State College's associate degree in liberal arts leaves graduates earning $23,863 in their first year—about $4,000 below the national median and roughly $1,000 below Georgia's median for this program. That 40th percentile ranking among Georgia schools means half the state's programs deliver better outcomes. The comparison to top-performing programs in the state is stark: Georgia State graduates start at $29,070, which is 22% higher.

The numbers do improve meaningfully over four years, with earnings climbing to $31,800. That 33% growth trajectory is encouraging and shows graduates can advance beyond their starting point. The debt load of $13,750 sits right at Georgia's median but comes with a first-year earnings figure that makes repayment more challenging initially. More than half of students here receive Pell grants, suggesting this program primarily serves students with limited resources who need to see clear financial returns.

For parents with options, this data suggests looking at other Georgia programs first—particularly Georgia State or Georgia Highlands College, which deliver significantly stronger starting salaries for similar credentials. If Atlanta Metropolitan is the choice for location or admission reasons, understand that your student will likely start below market rate and need those first few years to catch up financially. The moderate sample size gives some confidence in these numbers, but the earnings gap is too substantial to ignore.