Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Dalton State College

Dalton State's liberal arts associate degree starts rough but shows something more promising than the initial numbers suggest. That $23,664 first-year figure falls well below both the national median ($27,248) and places this program at just the 40th percentile among Georgia schools. However, graduates see 32% earnings growth by year four, reaching $31,221—exceeding the national median and outpacing top-ranked Georgia programs like Georgia State.

The debt picture offers genuine relief. At $9,750, students here borrow $4,000 less than the Georgia median and maintain a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41. For families concerned about affordability—and half of students here receive Pell grants—this represents a realistic path to a degree without crippling debt. The challenging first year appears to be a launch point rather than a ceiling, with graduates catching up to and surpassing peers elsewhere.

The tradeoff is clear: expect a financially tight first year out of school, likely requiring family support or dual incomes. But if your student can weather that initial period, the trajectory looks solid. This program works best for students who can afford patience and have realistic expectations about entry-level earnings, rather than those needing immediate financial independence after graduation.