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

Holyoke Community College's Liberal Arts associate program starts graduates at just $25,779—about $5,000 below the Massachusetts median and even trailing the national average. Among the state's 30 community colleges offering this degree, it ranks in just the 25th percentile, meaning three-quarters of comparable Massachusetts programs deliver stronger initial outcomes. Compare this to nearby community colleges like Bunker Hill ($38,348) or Quinsigamond ($33,524), and the gap becomes harder to justify, especially for families weighing in-state options.

The silver lining is meaningful earnings growth: graduates see a 32% jump to $34,018 by year four, bringing them closer to competitive territory. The debt load of $8,995 is manageable, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35 that won't cripple recent graduates. However, that relatively modest debt sits at the 70th percentile nationally, meaning borrowers here take on more than most students in similar programs elsewhere.

For families committed to staying in Massachusetts, this program lags its community college peers significantly. If location flexibility exists, stronger-performing options are abundant both within the state and nationally. The earnings trajectory improves with time, but starting this far behind the pack means playing catch-up for years.