Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Ivy Tech Community College

Ivy Tech's Liberal Arts associate degree offers a surprisingly affordable path into higher education, but the earnings outcomes lag behind Indiana's stronger programs. With just $11,000 in median debt—less than half the state average of $24,688—graduates avoid the heavy debt burden that plagues many liberal arts programs. However, first-year earnings of $26,524 fall short of both the national median ($27,248) and place the program in the 40th percentile within Indiana.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41 is quite manageable, meaning graduates can realistically pay off their loans relatively quickly. Earnings do grow by 19% over four years to $31,610, which helps narrow the gap with higher-performing programs. Still, even after this growth, graduates earn significantly less than those from Indiana's top programs like Vincennes University ($38,596) or Indiana Wesleyan ($43,511).

For families prioritizing affordability and debt avoidance, Ivy Tech delivers on keeping costs low while providing decent earnings growth. However, parents should recognize this program ranks below average within Indiana and nationally. If your child is college-bound regardless, this represents a low-risk option that won't saddle them with crushing debt, though the earnings ceiling appears limited compared to other in-state alternatives.