Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at East Arkansas Community College

East Arkansas Community College's Liberal Arts associate degree shows earnings that trail both state and national benchmarks, though the modest $8,000 debt load provides some cushion. Graduates start at $23,903—about $3,300 below the Arkansas median and nearly $3,400 below the national average for this program. While the program ranks at the 40th percentile statewide, Arkansas Tech and several community colleges are producing notably stronger outcomes, with graduates earning $7,000-$12,000 more annually.

The bright spot is manageable debt. At just $8,000, students finish with roughly a third of their first-year earnings in loans—well below typical community college debt loads. Combined with 23% earnings growth by year four, graduates who stick with the region can work toward more livable wages, though $29,491 still lags behind stronger Arkansas programs.

The challenge here is that this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, making it less reliable as a predictor. For Arkansas families, the low debt matters—you won't be drowning in payments on these wages. But if your student can access programs at NorthWest Arkansas Community College or Arkansas Tech (even accounting for transfer), they'd likely see $5,000-$10,000 better annual earnings from day one. This program works for students needing to stay local with minimal financial risk, but it's not positioning them competitively within the state's labor market.