Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Finger Lakes Community College

Finger Lakes Community College's liberal arts associate degree starts graduates at just under $23,000—nearly $4,000 below the national median for this program. While that puts it in the 20th percentile nationally, it's actually closer to typical for New York, landing at the 40th percentile among the state's 74 programs offering this degree. The $11,000 median debt is manageable and matches the state average exactly.

The program's real strength emerges in the earnings trajectory: graduates see a 42% income bump by year four, reaching $32,600. That's substantially better than the national median for this degree and suggests graduates are either advancing quickly in their careers or using the associate's as a stepping stone to better opportunities. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48 means graduates owe less than half their first-year salary, which is reasonable for a two-year degree.

For families considering this path, understand you're looking at modest starting wages that improve significantly with time. The program won't match the earning power of more specialized community college degrees—some NY programs start graduates at $60,000+—but the debt load is light and the growth pattern is encouraging. This makes sense as an affordable foundation for further education or as a credential for students who need to work while figuring out their next step.