Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Laurel Ridge Community College

Among Virginia's 33 community colleges offering general liberal arts associate degrees, Laurel Ridge lands in the 60th percentile—solidly above the state median of $24,984 but still trailing top performers like Northern Virginia Community College by about $4,000 annually. The real story here is momentum: graduates see their earnings jump 30% by year four, reaching $36,422. That trajectory suggests this program opens doors rather than creating dead ends, though you're starting from a modest base salary of $28,017.

The debt picture looks reasonable at $8,865, creating a manageable 0.32 debt-to-earnings ratio—your child would owe roughly four months of their first-year salary. This positions Laurel Ridge as a low-risk entry point to higher education, particularly for students who need an affordable foundation before transferring to a four-year institution or entering the workforce directly.

For an anxious parent, here's what matters: this isn't going to launch a high-earning career immediately, but it won't bury your child in debt either. The strong earnings growth suggests graduates are using this degree as a stepping stone effectively. If your child is exploring career options or planning to transfer, this represents a financially sensible way to get college credits without the financial exposure of starting at a four-year school.