Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Georgia State University-Perimeter College

Georgia State University-Perimeter College's Liberal Arts associate degree delivers surprisingly strong value, with graduates earning $29,070 in their first year—significantly above both the national median ($27,248) and Georgia's state median ($24,817) for this program. Among Georgia's 39 schools offering this degree, this program ranks in the 60th percentile for earnings while maintaining exceptionally low debt levels.

The debt picture is particularly compelling. At $16,750, student debt sits in just the 10th percentile nationally (meaning 90% of similar programs saddle students with more debt), and it's only modestly higher than Georgia's state median of $13,750. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58, graduates can realistically manage their loans—most financial experts recommend keeping this ratio below 1.0. The 33% earnings growth from year one to year four ($29,070 to $38,739) shows solid income progression potential.

This program represents smart positioning for an open-access institution serving a diverse student body (43% receive Pell grants). While liberal arts associate degrees often face skepticism about job market relevance, this program's combination of above-average earnings, minimal debt burden, and strong earnings growth makes it a financially sensible stepping stone—whether students enter the workforce immediately or transfer to complete a bachelor's degree.