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

Carteret Community College delivers an unusually strong return for a liberal arts associate degree, particularly considering the minimal debt students take on. With graduates earning $31,113 just one year out—outperforming both the North Carolina median ($26,838) and the national median ($27,248)—this program punches above its weight while keeping median debt under $5,600. That's half the typical debt load for this degree statewide and less than a fifth of what students borrow nationally.

The earnings trajectory shows steady improvement rather than stagnation, with income climbing 7% to $33,232 by year four. While that's below the top-performing NC programs like Randolph Community College, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.18 means graduates here are starting their post-college life with significantly less financial pressure. For a liberal arts associate—often criticized as low-ROI—this is exactly the kind of foundation that allows students to either enter the workforce without crushing payments or transfer to a four-year school with minimal existing debt.

The moderate sample size suggests these outcomes are reasonably stable, not a statistical fluke. For families considering Carteret, especially those who qualify for Pell grants (38% of students here do), this program offers a practical path forward: develop transferable skills, earn above-average wages for the degree, and avoid the debt trap that makes many associate degrees feel like a financial mistake.