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

Lee College's Liberal Arts Associate's delivers something rare for general studies programs: graduates actually earn more than the typical Texas worker with this degree. At $31,916 in the first year, students land in the 82nd percentile nationally and 60th percentile statewide—solid results that put them roughly $4,600 ahead of the national median. The debt load of $8,476 translates to just three months of gross earnings, well below the concerning levels we see at many community colleges.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates tracked) means these numbers could shift with more data, but the fundamentals look sound. Lee College serves a working-class population in the Houston metro area (32% receive Pell grants), and these earnings suggest the program successfully connects students to jobs that pay above retail or food service wages. The modest 4% earnings growth to year four isn't dramatic, but it maintains the advantage over state and national peers.

For a parent weighing options, this program offers manageable debt and earnings that comfortably exceed what most Liberal Arts Associate's graduates achieve in Texas. It's not going to match the earning power of the state's top programs—Central Texas College graduates earn $8,000 more—but the debt-to-earnings ratio suggests minimal financial risk. If your student needs an affordable, low-stakes path to either enter the workforce or transfer to a four-year school, Lee College delivers decent value at a reasonable price.