Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at CUNY Kingsborough Community College

Kingsborough's liberal arts associate program outperforms most New York competitors while keeping debt remarkably low—a combination that matters for students using this degree as a stepping stone. At $33,568 four years out, graduates earn 42% more than the typical New York program in this field and land in the 60th percentile statewide. That $8,115 in median debt translates to just three months of first-year earnings, one of the lower debt burdens you'll find for any community college program.

The 21% earnings growth from year one to year four suggests graduates are finding traction in the job market or transferring successfully to four-year programs. While the first-year salary of $27,831 won't wow anyone, it's actually slightly above the national median for liberal arts associate degrees. For a Brooklyn community college serving a substantial population of Pell grant recipients, these outcomes represent solid value—especially compared to the $11,000 median debt at other New York programs.

If your child plans to transfer to a bachelor's program or needs an affordable entry point into higher education, Kingsborough delivers what a community college should: decent outcomes without the debt trap. Just understand this is a foundation, not a destination degree.