Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Kaskaskia College

Kaskaskia College's Liberal Arts associate's delivers something increasingly rare: a genuinely affordable pathway to steady earnings growth. At $7,500 in debt—well below both the state ($7,761) and national ($10,950) medians—graduates are essentially starting their careers unencumbered. That 0.25 debt-to-earnings ratio means students typically carry less than three months' worth of salary in loans, leaving room for further education or immediate financial flexibility.

The earnings trajectory tells an encouraging story. First-year graduates earn $30,605, already placing them in the 76th percentile nationally and above the Illinois median. By year four, that figure climbs to $32,822—not explosive growth, but solid 7% appreciation that suggests graduates are gaining traction in the workforce. While top Illinois programs like Prairie State and Lincoln Land push past $34,000 in first-year earnings, the $2,000-4,000 difference matters far less than the debt comparison would suggest, particularly if students plan to transfer to a four-year institution.

For families viewing this as a launching pad rather than a terminal degree, the math works clearly in your favor. Your child graduates with minimal debt, demonstrates earning power that beats three-quarters of similar programs nationwide, and positions themselves for either workplace advancement or affordable continuation of their education. The moderate sample size suggests consistent outcomes rather than statistical outliers.