Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at McLennan Community College

McLennan Community College's associate degree in Liberal Arts produces earnings that outpace 76% of similar programs nationwide—an impressive showing for a general studies degree that often gets dismissed as unfocused. First-year graduates earn $30,690, climbing to nearly $39,000 by year four, a 27% increase that suggests students are successfully translating their broad education into marketable skills. With manageable debt of $12,843—below both state and national medians—the program offers a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42, meaning graduates can realistically pay off their loans within a year or two of full-time work.

Within Texas, the picture is solid though not exceptional. McLennan ranks in the 60th percentile among the state's 73 liberal arts programs, trailing standouts like Central Texas College and Austin Community College District but still comfortably above the state median. For families in the Waco area weighing community college options, this represents a low-risk pathway: the debt burden is modest, earnings growth is consistent, and the outcome data is based on a robust sample size.

The bottom line: if your child needs an affordable associate degree as a stepping stone—whether for transfer to a four-year school or immediate workforce entry—this program delivers reasonable returns without the debt trap that plagues many higher ed choices. It won't make them rich, but it won't bury them either.