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

Hopkinsville Community College's liberal arts program performs right in the middle of the pack—it beats Kentucky's median earnings by $6,700 and ranks in the 60th percentile statewide. For an associate's degree that costs under $10,000 in debt, the numbers aren't alarming, particularly with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.34 that's manageable for most graduates. First-year earnings of $28,000 climb to nearly $34,000 by year four, suggesting graduates find footing in the workforce.

The challenge is that top Kentucky community colleges are delivering substantially better outcomes. Jefferson Community and Technical College graduates earn $36,600—about $8,600 more than Hopkinsville's median four years out. That gap matters when you're working with entry-level wages. Still, for students who need to stay local or who are using this degree as a stepping stone to a bachelor's program, the debt load is light enough that it won't become a burden.

This is a reasonable option if proximity matters, but students who can access one of Kentucky's higher-performing community colleges should seriously consider them. The earnings difference compounds over time, and at this debt level, even modest increases in starting salary create meaningful financial advantages.