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

Central Virginia Community College's liberal arts program starts students at a challenging $19,393 in year one—well below both the national median ($27,248) and Virginia's median ($24,984). In fact, among Virginia's 33 schools offering this program, CVCC ranks at just the 25th percentile. Compare this to Northern Virginia Community College, where similar graduates earn $32,144, or even nearby Piedmont Virginia's $29,144. The debt load of $9,811 is reasonable, but when you're earning under $20,000, it still creates real financial pressure in those crucial first years.

The silver lining here is substantial earnings growth—graduates see a 64% jump to $31,785 by year four, eventually surpassing the national median. However, this "catch-up" trajectory means students spend several years making ends meet on very modest incomes. For a community college associate's degree, the expectation is typically immediate employability at livable wages, not a multi-year climb to reach average earnings.

If your child is considering this program, understand they'll likely need financial support or additional work during those first years post-graduation. The low initial earnings suggest many graduates may be taking entry-level retail or service positions rather than leveraging their degree immediately. Given the stronger outcomes at other Virginia community colleges, it's worth exploring whether transferring to a four-year institution—which many liberal arts students pursue—might be the real value here rather than the associate's degree as a standalone credential.