Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Mohawk Valley Community College

Mohawk Valley's liberal arts associate program sits in an interesting position: it performs solidly for New York (60th percentile in the state), even though it falls below the national median. That's not a contradiction—it reflects New York's particularly challenging wage environment for liberal arts graduates. At $23,618 initially, graduates earn almost exactly what their peers across the state make, while carrying typical debt of $11,100.

The program's strongest feature is its modest debt burden paired with meaningful earnings growth. That 0.47 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe less than half their first-year salary, a manageable starting point for an associate degree. More importantly, earnings climb 18% to nearly $28,000 by year four, suggesting graduates find pathways to better opportunities—whether through job advancement or continuing their education. With 29% of students receiving Pell grants, this accessibility matters.

The reality check: liberal arts associate degrees rarely lead to high-paying careers immediately, and New York's top performers in this field (like Maria College at $61,000) are outliers, often focused on specific healthcare pathways. For families viewing this as a stepping stone—a foundational degree before transferring to a four-year program—the combination of low debt and typical outcomes makes sense. For those expecting this associate degree to stand alone as career preparation, the modest earnings warrant serious consideration of alternative paths.