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

Grayson College's Liberal Arts associate's manages to outperform 80% of similar Texas programs despite being a general studies degree—a category that often struggles with post-graduation earnings. At $34,262 in the first year, graduates here earn $7,000 more than the typical Texas liberal arts associate's holder and substantially more than the national median of $27,248. The debt load of $8,375 is also well below both state and national averages, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.24 that most parents would find comfortable.

The caveat worth noting: earnings essentially flatline between years one and four, hovering around $34,000. This suggests graduates may be landing in jobs with limited advancement potential or using this degree as a stepping stone to further education rather than as a terminal credential. Still, for a general studies program serving a significant Pell-eligible population, these outcomes represent solid employment traction in the North Texas job market.

For families considering this as an affordable path to transfer to a four-year institution or enter the workforce quickly with minimal debt, the numbers support that decision. Just understand you're looking at a credential that gets students employed at a decent wage, not one that drives significant salary growth over time.