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

Coffeyville Community College manages to squeeze solid performance from a challenging program category. At $30,859 four years out, graduates earn about $5,000 more than the typical Kansas liberal arts associate's degree holder—ranking this program in the 60th percentile statewide. That's meaningful when you're comparing community colleges across the state, though it's worth noting that several Kansas schools achieve substantially higher earnings in this field.

The financial picture is straightforward: $8,000 in debt against nearly $29,000 in first-year earnings creates a manageable debt load. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.28 means graduates can realistically pay this off within a year or two of focused repayment. Earnings do grow about 9% by year four, suggesting graduates find slightly better opportunities as they gain experience or complete additional education.

For an anxious parent, this comes down to expectations. If your student plans to transfer to a four-year program, this provides an affordable foundation. If they're entering the workforce directly with an associate's degree in liberal arts, understand that $30,000 annually represents a modest income—adequate in Coffeyville's low cost-of-living area but requiring careful budgeting. The low debt makes this a relatively safe choice, but don't expect dramatic earning potential from this credential alone.