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

Henry Ford College's Liberal Arts certificate presents a puzzling contradiction that parents need to understand before committing. The immediate post-graduation earnings of $51,663 rank in the 95th percentile nationally—genuinely exceptional for a certificate program that typically earns students just $27,000. This matches Michigan's median for the program, placing it solidly at the 60th percentile statewide.

The concern is what happens next. Earnings drop to $38,363 by year four, a 26% decline that's unusual and suggests graduates may be taking these initial high-paying jobs in sectors where advancement without a bachelor's degree hits a ceiling. The $24,750 debt load—considerably higher than both the national median ($9,375) and state median ($14,750)—amplifies this problem. You're paying premium debt for what appears to be a short-term earnings boost rather than a sustainable career foundation.

For families where a certificate is the right educational path and immediate earnings matter most, those first-year numbers are hard to ignore. But the declining trajectory means this functions more as a stopgap than a destination credential. If your child plans to continue to a bachelor's degree, that initial debt will compound. If they don't, they'll likely face income stagnation in their mid-twenties with above-average debt to service.