Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Galveston College

The immediate red flag here isn't the debt—it's that graduates earn 20% less four years out than they did in year one. While Galveston College's liberal arts program starts students at $30,586 (above both state and national medians), by year four they're making just $24,379. This backward trajectory suggests graduates may be stuck in stagnant job markets or taking positions that don't offer typical wage growth. Among Texas community colleges, this program lands in the 60th percentile initially, but there's no premium for staying in the region when other Texas programs like Central Texas College deliver starting earnings nearly $10,000 higher.

The debt load of $12,515 is manageable relative to that first-year income—a 0.41 ratio is reasonable for an associate's degree. But debt becomes more burdensome as earnings shrink, not grow. With 42% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here can't afford a credential that leads to declining wages.

The critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so it may not represent typical outcomes. But if these numbers hold, this program works best as a stepping stone to a bachelor's degree elsewhere, not as a terminal credential. For students planning to work immediately after graduation, you'd want much clearer evidence that local employment opportunities can sustain upward mobility.