Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at College of the Albemarle

College of the Albemarle's Liberal Arts associate's degree comes with remarkably light debt—just $7,481, well below both state and national medians—but the earnings trajectory tells a more sobering story. Graduates earn around $28,000 one year out, which beats the North Carolina median by about $1,400 and places this program in the 60th percentile statewide. However, that's essentially where the growth stops. Four years later, earnings inch up to just $29,127, a mere 3% increase that suggests limited career advancement from this credential alone.

The real concern emerges when you compare this to other North Carolina community colleges offering the same degree. Programs at Randolph Community College ($40,145) and Beaufort County Community College ($38,009) produce graduates earning 40% more, revealing that not all Liberal Arts associate's degrees position students equally in the job market. These are likely students moving into different local economies or perhaps combining their studies with more marketable skill sets.

The low debt load is genuinely valuable—at 0.26 times first-year earnings, it's manageable debt that won't derail financial stability. But this appears to be a credential best viewed as a stepping stone. If your student plans to transfer to a four-year program immediately, the affordable entry point makes sense. If they're hoping to work full-time after graduation, understand that $29,000 is probably the ceiling without further education or training.