Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Bellevue College

Bellevue College graduates with this associate's degree start modestly at under $30,000 but reach $46,509 by year four—a 57% earnings jump that outpaces typical trajectories for liberal arts associate degrees. That four-year figure beats the national median by over $19,000 and suggests graduates are successfully leveraging the degree as a stepping stone, likely into Washington's robust tech and service sectors where even non-technical roles command solid wages.

The debt picture reinforces the value: at $9,598, students borrow slightly less than both state and national medians, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.32. While this program ranks in the 60th percentile among Washington liberal arts programs—meaning some community colleges deliver higher first-year earnings—Bellevue's strong earnings growth compensates. The gap between Bellevue's four-year earnings and top performers like Spokane Community College narrows considerably over time, suggesting different but equally viable career pathways.

For parents wondering about the return on a general studies degree, this data tells a reassuring story: manageable debt, earnings that more than double the initial investment within four years, and performance that beats most peers nationally. The degree appears to function exactly as intended—providing foundational credentials that open doors in a high-wage regional economy.