Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Blinn College District

Blinn College's liberal arts associate degree produces solid outcomes for a general studies program, positioning graduates in the 60th percentile among Texas schools—meaning they're earning more than most peers who chose similar programs in-state. At roughly $29,000 in the first year, these earnings beat both the state and national medians by about $1,700, a meaningful difference when you're starting out.

The debt picture looks reasonable: $12,750 represents just five months of first-year earnings, well below the concerning threshold where loan payments become burdensome. That's roughly $2,000 more than typical debt loads for this degree in Texas, but given that graduates are earning above-average wages, the tradeoff works. Earnings also show modest but steady growth to $30,666 by year four, suggesting graduates are finding stable footing in the workforce rather than stalling out.

The reality check: this is still an associate degree in general studies, and there's a ceiling here. Top Texas programs in this field—like Central Texas College and Austin Community College—are producing graduates who earn $10,000 more annually, showing what's possible with either better local job markets or stronger institutional connections. Still, for a two-year credential that doesn't leave you drowning in debt, Blinn delivers respectable value. Your child won't get rich, but they'll have affordable credentials and earnings that exceed most alternatives in this category.