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

Craven Community College's Liberal Arts associate degree produces outcomes that sit comfortably in the middle of the pack—60th percentile in North Carolina and 62nd nationally—while keeping debt remarkably low at $7,500. Starting earnings of $28,745 won't impress anyone, but they're actually above both state and national medians for this program. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.26 means graduates owe roughly three months' salary, making this one of the more financially manageable paths into higher education.

The challenge is that even the top-performing liberal arts programs in North Carolina—places like Randolph Community College at $40,145—still produce modest earnings. This isn't a Craven-specific problem; it's the reality of associate-level liberal arts degrees across the board. Earnings do grow 9% over four years to $31,201, suggesting graduates gain traction in the workforce, though the pace is gradual rather than dramatic.

For a family considering this program, the key question is: what comes next? If this degree serves as a stepping stone to a bachelor's program or provides foundational skills while your child figures out their direction, the minimal debt makes it a reasonable choice. If this is meant to be terminal career preparation, the earnings ceiling—even at the state's best programs—should factor heavily into your decision.