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

Kalamazoo Valley's liberal arts associate program punches well above its weight nationally—graduates earn $33,055 in their first year, landing in the 87th percentile compared to similar programs nationwide. That's nearly $6,000 more than the typical liberal arts associate degree earner. However, within Michigan's community college landscape, the picture is more nuanced: this program sits at the 60th percentile statewide, trailing Oakland Community College by about $4,000 and barely edging out Grand Rapids.

The debt load tells a more favorable story. At $14,665, graduates carry more than the national median for this degree ($10,950), but the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44 means you're looking at less than half a year's salary in debt—manageable by community college standards. More importantly, earnings climb 13% to $37,470 by year four, suggesting graduates are finding pathways to better-paying work or continuing their education successfully.

For Michigan families, this represents a solid but not exceptional value. You're paying slightly above-average debt for a program that delivers above-average results nationally but middle-of-the-pack outcomes within the state. If your student plans to transfer to a four-year institution or needs a general associate degree as a stepping stone, the strong national standing and reasonable debt load make this a workable choice—just know that similar programs at Oakland or Grand Rapids might offer better earnings potential at comparable or lower cost.