Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at East Georgia State College

East Georgia State College's associate program in liberal arts delivers outcomes that look better within Georgia than nationally, which matters if you're comparing in-state options. At $28,586 four years out, graduates earn above the state median for this degree ($24,817) and rank in the 60th percentile among Georgia's 39 programs—solidly middle-of-the-pack for a state where many similar programs struggle to break $25,000. The debt load of $11,500 stays manageable relative to those modest earnings, creating a debt-to-income ratio of 0.46 that most graduates can handle.

The tougher reality is that this program still trails the national median by nearly $1,400 after four years, placing it in just the 32nd percentile nationally. For an associate degree meant as either a stepping stone to a bachelor's or direct workforce entry, these earnings leave graduates earning less than $30,000 annually in their mid-twenties. The 15% earnings growth from year one to year four is encouraging and suggests graduates find slightly better footing over time, but they're starting from a low base of $24,900.

If your child plans to stay in Georgia and transfer to complete a four-year degree, this provides an affordable entry point without crushing debt. As a terminal credential, however, the earning potential remains limited compared to career-focused associate degrees.