Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College's Liberal Arts program shows a notable pattern: graduates start near the bottom nationally (12th percentile) at $21,260, but strong 32% earnings growth lifts them to $28,039 by year four—nearly matching the national median. Within Mississippi, this program actually performs above average, ranking in the 60th percentile among 17 state options. The $10,000 debt load is manageable, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47 that improves significantly as graduates establish themselves.

The real question is whether starting $6,000 below the national median matters if you're planning to stay in Mississippi, where this program slightly exceeds the state median of $21,112. However, the state's top performers—Holmes and Meridian community colleges—demonstrate that Mississippi students can earn $4,000-$5,000 more annually in similar associate programs. That gap persists even after accounting for this program's solid growth trajectory.

For families prioritizing affordability and planning to remain in Mississippi, this represents a low-risk entry point with room for income growth. But if maximizing early earnings matters—particularly for students who need immediate income—the stronger-performing community colleges in Mississippi offer measurably better outcomes without substantially different debt burdens.