Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Montgomery College

Montgomery College's Liberal Arts associate degree shows an unusual trajectory that deserves a closer look. The first-year earnings of $20,217 are concerning—ranking in just the 5th percentile nationally and 25th percentile among Maryland programs. However, by year four, median earnings more than double to $40,846, actually surpassing top performers like UMGC and Baltimore City Community College at that point.

The question for Maryland families is whether that initial earning period represents a real financial hardship or simply reflects students working part-time while transferring to four-year programs. The modest $9,500 debt load provides some cushion, but even that takes nearly half a year's initial earnings to manage. It's worth noting that similar programs at other Maryland community colleges start stronger—Prince George's and Wor-Wic both show first-year earnings around $30,000.

The dramatic earnings growth suggests many graduates successfully transfer and complete bachelor's degrees, which would explain both the weak start and strong finish. If your student plans to transfer immediately and can manage financially during that first year, the low debt and eventual earning power make sense. But if they need to work full-time right after graduation, the initial earning potential here lags significantly behind alternatives within Maryland's community college system.