Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Glenville State University

Glenville State's general studies associate degree produces earnings that fall slightly below both the national median ($27,248) and West Virginia's median ($27,176) for this program—ranking in the 40th percentile statewide. More concerning is the trajectory: at $26,219 one year out, graduates earn less than they would at 13 of West Virginia's 16 schools offering similar programs, including community colleges like Mountwest ($43,753) and WV University at Parkersburg ($33,409) that deliver significantly stronger outcomes.

The debt picture offers the only bright spot here. At $20,494, it's nearly double the national median for this degree ($10,950), but the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.78 remains manageable—graduates should be able to repay this within a reasonable timeframe. Still, with 42% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are relying on this degree as an economic stepping stone, and the earnings gap compared to other in-state options is substantial.

If your child is set on Glenville for campus culture or location, this program won't bury them in debt. But purely as a return-on-investment decision, West Virginia offers several community colleges where a general studies associate degree translates to $6,000-17,000 more in annual earnings with similar or lower debt loads.