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

Clark College's Liberal Arts associate degree starts slow but shows something promising: 40% earnings growth over four years, moving graduates from $23,953 to $33,615. That trajectory matters more than the weak starting point, which ranks in just the 40th percentile among Washington's 38 programs. By year four, graduates are closing in on the state median and outpacing what many similar programs deliver long-term.

The $9,496 debt load is slightly below Washington's median for this degree, creating a manageable 0.40 debt-to-earnings ratio even in that difficult first year. This is half what you'd see with a four-year degree and positions graduates to pay down debt quickly as their earnings climb. The robust sample size confirms this pattern is real, not statistical noise.

The catch is those early years—$23,953 puts graduates well behind the national median of $27,248, and far behind top Washington performers like Spokane Community College ($34,583). Parents should understand their child will likely need financial support or additional work hours initially. But for students planning to transfer to a four-year program or who need an affordable entry point to higher education, the combination of low debt and strong earnings momentum makes this a defensible choice. Just don't expect immediate financial independence.