Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Clarendon College

Clarendon College graduates earn roughly $6,000 below the Texas median for associate-level liberal arts programs, placing this program in the 25th percentile statewide—meaning three-quarters of comparable Texas programs deliver better earnings outcomes. That first-year figure of $21,140 is particularly low, though earnings do climb 48% by year four to $31,297. Compare that trajectory to top Texas programs like Central Texas College ($39,731) or Austin Community College ($38,436), and the gap becomes harder to justify, even accounting for Clarendon's lower debt load of $9,062.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43 isn't alarming—you'd pay back less than half of first-year earnings—but that's cold comfort when those earnings sit well below what graduates could expect from similar programs elsewhere in Texas. The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift year to year, but even with that caveat, the pattern suggests this program struggles to launch graduates into stable employment at competitive wages.

If your child is considering Clarendon, look hard at alternative community colleges with stronger track records. The lower tuition at a rural Texas community college matters, but not if it costs your child $8,000-$18,000 annually in lost earnings compared to programs an hour or two away.