Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Central Carolina Community College

Central Carolina Community College graduates from this program start at $19,606—landing in just the 5th percentile nationally and 25th in North Carolina. That's $7,200 below the state median and nearly $8,000 below the national benchmark. For context, neighboring community colleges like Randolph and Beaufort County place their liberal arts graduates at starting salaries more than double what Central Carolina achieves. Even at the 4-year mark, when earnings climb to $31,331, graduates still earn less than peers from other NC programs made in their first year.

The low $5,500 debt load offers some relief—95% of similar programs nationally carry higher debt. That manageable burden means the debt-to-earnings ratio stays reasonable at 0.28, and the 60% earnings jump from year one to year four suggests graduates do gain traction. However, that growth mostly represents catching up to where others started. At four years out, these graduates are just beginning to reach what the typical NC liberal arts associate degree holder earns initially.

For families considering this program, understand you're trading lower initial earnings for minimal debt. If your student needs an affordable credential while working full-time or plans to immediately transfer to a four-year program, the low debt makes sense. But if they expect the degree to launch a career on its own, the earnings gap compared to other North Carolina community colleges is substantial and persistent.