Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Herkimer County Community College

Herkimer's Liberal Arts associate's program starts with alarming first-year earnings of just $19,395—placing it in the bottom 5% nationally and well below New York's state median of $23,613. That's barely above poverty-level wages, even for an associate's degree. However, the 57% earnings jump to $30,475 by year four tells a more complex story, suggesting graduates may be using this as a stepping stone while continuing their education or building workplace experience.

The $11,000 debt load is manageable and typical for the program type, but the early earnings struggle means new graduates face a difficult first year financially. Compare this to other SUNY community colleges like Hudson Valley ($28,464) or Westchester ($30,417), which deliver substantially better starting outcomes. Among New York's 74 schools offering this degree, Herkimer ranks only in the 25th percentile—meaning three-quarters of similar programs in the state produce better results.

For families viewing this as a complete credential leading to immediate work, the numbers are discouraging. But if your student plans to transfer to a four-year program and is choosing Herkimer primarily for affordability and location, the modest debt and eventual earnings recovery make it a defensible choice—just understand the first year or two post-graduation will likely be financially tight.