Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Mid-Plains Community College

Mid-Plains Community College's liberal arts associate degree starts slow but shows surprising momentum. First-year graduates earn just $24,535—roughly $3,000 below the Nebraska median for this program and in the bottom quarter statewide. However, four years out, earnings jump 37% to $33,635, surpassing both the state and national medians. That earnings trajectory suggests graduates either transfer successfully to bachelor's programs or develop marketable skills that take time to translate into better jobs.

The debt picture makes this gamble more reasonable. At $8,817, graduates borrow less than typical for this program both in Nebraska and nationally, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36 even in that difficult first year. This is notably lower debt than what students carry at Southeast Community College or Metropolitan Community College, the state's higher-earning alternatives.

For families comfortable with a longer timeline to career establishment, this program offers a low-cost entry point with genuine upward mobility. But if your student needs immediate earning power after two years—perhaps to support themselves while continuing education—the schools at the top of Nebraska's rankings deliver $6,000 to $8,000 more right out of the gate. The growth here is real, but it requires patience and likely additional steps beyond the associate degree itself.