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

Middlesex Community College's liberal arts associate's degree outperforms most similar programs nationally while keeping debt remarkably low—a combination that makes it one of Massachusetts' better community college options. Graduates earn $31,451 in their first year, placing the program in the 79th percentile nationally and comfortably above both the national median of $27,248 and Massachusetts' state median of $31,206. More impressive is the earnings trajectory: by year four, median pay reaches $40,585, a 29% increase that puts graduates within striking distance of Harvard's liberal arts associate grads. The debt load of $7,928 translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.25, meaning graduates owe less than three months of their first year's salary.

The program sits in the 60th percentile among Massachusetts liberal arts programs—solid middle-of-the-pack positioning in a competitive state market. While it trails Bunker Hill and MassBay, it beats half of the state's offerings and costs substantially less than private alternatives. For families looking at community college as an affordable path to either workforce entry or transfer to a four-year school, this represents reasonable value. The strong earnings growth suggests graduates are finding decent employment or successfully continuing their education, and the manageable debt means they retain financial flexibility for either path.