Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Jefferson Community and Technical College

Jefferson Community and Technical College's liberal arts program stands out dramatically in a field where most associate degree programs struggle to deliver strong earnings outcomes. Graduates earn $36,623 in their first year—ranking in the 95th percentile nationally and 80th percentile within Kentucky. This puts the program neck-and-neck with Gateway Community and Technical College for the top liberal arts earnings in the state, while substantially outperforming the national median of $27,248.

The debt picture adds to the program's appeal. At $13,730, student debt sits in the 23rd percentile nationally (meaning 77% of similar programs have higher debt), creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.37. This is particularly impressive given that liberal arts programs often carry debt loads that overwhelm modest starting salaries. The slight earnings growth to $37,741 by year four shows stable career progression rather than the stagnation common in this field.

For parents worried about the practical value of a liberal arts degree, this program offers a compelling counter-narrative. The combination of top-tier earnings and manageable debt creates genuine economic mobility—graduates can reasonably expect to service their loans while building toward further education or career advancement. With 100+ graduates in the data sample, these numbers reflect real, consistent outcomes rather than statistical noise.