Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Milwaukee Area Technical College

Milwaukee Area Technical College's Liberal Arts associate degree delivers earnings that look solid nationally but fall short within Wisconsin. Graduates earn $29,812 in their first year—ranking in the 70th percentile nationally but only the 40th percentile among Wisconsin programs. That positioning reveals a key tension: while this program beats most similar offerings across the country, Wisconsin students have access to stronger alternatives. The state median sits at $29,978, and several UW campuses push past $33,000 in first-year earnings.

The debt picture provides some reassurance. At $14,298, borrowing is higher than both state and national medians, but the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48 remains manageable—graduates owe roughly half a year's salary. More importantly, earnings climb 23% by year four to $36,710, suggesting this degree opens doors rather than limiting them. For a program serving 41% Pell-eligible students, that trajectory matters.

The bottom line: this is a perfectly serviceable liberal arts associate degree with reasonable debt, but Wisconsin families should comparison shop. If location flexibility exists, Madison Area Technical College offers similar accessibility with comparable outcomes, while the UW system provides meaningfully higher earnings for students who can handle four-year requirements. MATC works best for students who need Milwaukee-based education and plan to leverage the associate degree as a stepping stone—either into the workforce with room to grow or as transfer credits toward a bachelor's.