Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Hudson Valley Community College

Hudson Valley Community College's Liberal Arts associate's delivers something rare for this program type: graduates earn more than the state median right out of the gate, landing in the 60th percentile among New York's 74 schools offering this degree. While that $28,464 starting salary won't turn heads, it beats what most New York students with this credential earn by over $4,800 annually—a meaningful difference for someone just entering the workforce.

The debt picture reinforces the value here. At roughly $10,000, graduates owe slightly less than both state and national medians for this program, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35. That means students can pay off their loans with about four months of gross earnings, well within comfortable territory. The 21% earnings bump to $34,341 by year four suggests graduates are finding paths forward, whether through continued education or steady employment.

For anxious parents wondering if a general studies associate's is worth it, this program makes the case better than most. Your child won't be competing with Maria College's outlier $60,000 earners, but they'll avoid the regret of choosing a weaker program—half of New York's similar programs produce lower earnings with comparable debt. It's a solid foundation degree at a reasonable price, particularly for students who need time to clarify their direction or plan to transfer to a four-year school.