Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Boise State University

Boise State's associate program in liberal arts commands the highest earnings in Idaho for this field—and it's not particularly close. At nearly $41,000 in first-year earnings, graduates earn 40% more than the state median and $8,000 above the next-best program in Idaho. Nationally, this places Boise State in the 95th percentile, crushing the typical $27,000 outcome for associate-level liberal arts degrees.

The tradeoff is moderate debt of $15,894, which sits above both state and national medians but remains manageable given the strong earnings. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39 means graduates owe less than five months of salary—a reasonable burden. However, earnings actually decline 5% by year four, dropping to around $39,000. This could reflect graduates transferring to four-year programs or working part-time while continuing their education, which is common for associate degrees serving as stepping stones.

For an associate degree that opens doors to Idaho's job market—or serves as a foundation for further education—this program delivers unusually strong value. The premium price tag makes sense when you're essentially buying access to the state's best outcomes in this field.