Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Henry Ford College

Henry Ford College's Liberal Arts associate degree delivers below-average earnings for Michigan but keeps debt remarkably low—a tradeoff worth examining closely. Graduates here earn $28,000 in their first year, placing them in the 40th percentile among Michigan programs and slightly above the national median. However, they carry $16,767 in debt, which is higher than both state and national medians for this program. That creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60, meaning graduates owe about 7 months of their first-year salary.

The real concern is the earnings gap within Michigan. Top community college programs like Oakland CC and Grand Rapids CC see their graduates earning $33,000-$37,000—potentially $5,000-$9,000 more annually than Henry Ford graduates. Over several years, that difference compounds significantly. The 20% earnings growth to year four is positive, but graduates still trail their peers at comparable Michigan institutions.

For families considering this program, the math is straightforward: you'll pay more in debt than typical Liberal Arts graduates nationwide while earning less than most Michigan peers in the same field. If Henry Ford is your local option and minimizes living costs, it can still work—but if you have access to Oakland or Grand Rapids community colleges, those programs deliver substantially better earning potential with similar or lower debt burdens.