Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Louisiana State University-Eunice

LSU-Eunice's Liberal Arts associate degree costs students relatively little—just $12,000 in median debt—but delivers earnings that plateau immediately and then drift downward. Graduates earn $27,391 in their first year, slightly below the Louisiana median of $27,266, placing this program at the 60th percentile statewide. By year four, earnings slip to $26,420, suggesting limited advancement prospects. That $12,000 debt load is actually below the Louisiana median of $17,789, which means students aren't being saddled with the excessive borrowing common at other state schools. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44 is manageable—graduates can theoretically pay off their loans in about half a year's salary.

The concerning pattern here isn't the debt; it's what happens after graduation. While this program performs slightly above average compared to other Louisiana liberal arts programs, that's a low bar. Top programs like McNeese State deliver $37,650—over $10,000 more annually. The earnings decline over four years suggests graduates aren't building careers that reward experience or gaining skills employers value more over time.

For an anxious parent, the calculation is straightforward: this is an affordable credential with limited upside. If your child needs a low-cost associate degree as a stepping stone to a bachelor's program or has clear career plans that don't depend on this credential alone, the minimal debt makes it workable. But if they're expecting this degree to launch a career with growth potential, the numbers suggest it won't.