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

Colby Community College's liberal arts associate degree produces earnings significantly below what similar programs deliver elsewhere in Kansas. At $23,240 one year out, graduates earn about $3,000 less than the Kansas median for this degree and roughly $4,000 below the national average. While the program sits at the 40th percentile statewide—meaning it's middle-of-the-pack for Kansas—it lands in just the 22nd percentile nationally, indicating Kansas itself may underperform on this credential.

The debt load of $9,000 is manageable in absolute terms, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39 that won't crush most graduates. However, the core problem is that starting salary: less than $24,000 annually makes it difficult to build financial momentum, even with modest debt. Compare this to Kansas City Kansas Community College's liberal arts program, where graduates earn $35,955—a difference of nearly $13,000 annually that compounds significantly over time.

For families considering this route, understand that an associate degree in liberal arts typically serves as a stepping stone to further education rather than a career endpoint. If your student plans to transfer to a four-year institution, Colby can provide that foundation at low debt cost. But if they're hoping this two-year degree alone will launch financial independence, the earnings data suggests they'll face a challenging start.