Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Butler Community College

Butler Community College graduates from this associate's program earn $32,466 four years out—about $6,300 more than the typical Kansas liberal arts associate's degree holder and well above the national median. With a debt load of just $12,000, students here are borrowing slightly more than average but still maintaining a manageable 0.40 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning they owe less than five months of their first year's salary.

The steady earnings growth—9% from year one to year four—suggests these graduates are gaining traction in the job market rather than stalling out. While Butler doesn't match the earnings of Washburn or Kansas City Kansas Community College, it outperforms most Kansas peers and ranks in the 70th percentile nationally. For a program serving a significant population of Pell Grant students (31%), these outcomes represent solid accessibility without sacrificing results.

The real question is whether an associate's in liberal arts positions your child for their specific career goals. If this is a stepping stone to a bachelor's degree or a way to explore interests affordably while building foundational skills, Butler delivers good value. If this is the terminal degree, understand that $32,000 annually is workable with this debt level but won't provide financial cushion. The numbers work—just make sure the program itself aligns with where your child wants to go next.