Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Hawaii Community College

Hawaii Community College's Liberal Arts associate's degree sits in the middle of the pack both nationally and within Hawaii, but the real concern is what graduates earn relative to Hawaii's notoriously high cost of living. At $25,212 one year out, earnings fall about $2,000 below the national median and $1,000 below the state median. Within Hawaii's community college system, this program ranks fifth out of ten—notably behind Kapiolani's $33,307 and even trailing Windward and Maui College.

The modest $9,166 debt load is a plus, and the 0.36 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates can theoretically pay this off within half a year's income. Earnings do grow 13% over four years to $28,575, which at least shows upward movement. However, these wages remain challenging in Hawaii's expensive housing and consumer market, where even basic necessities cost significantly more than the mainland.

For families banking on this degree as an economic stepping stone, understand that it's functioning more as a low-cost exploration of college than a direct path to financial security. If your student plans to transfer to a four-year program, this provides an affordable entry point. If they're stopping at the associate's level, though, they'll likely need additional training or credentials to earn a living wage in Hawaii—or they may need to consider relocating to areas with lower costs of living.