Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Morehead State University

Morehead State's associate degree in liberal arts comes with an unusual burden: graduates carry more than double the debt of their peers across Kentucky ($22,575 vs. $11,758 state median), yet earn $2,200 less than the typical Kentucky graduate in this field. That debt level ranks in the 5th percentile nationally—meaning 95% of similar programs leave students with less debt—while earnings sit at the 40th percentile statewide.

The comparison to Kentucky's community colleges is particularly striking. Students at Jefferson Community and Technical College in this program earn $36,623—nearly $12,000 more annually—likely with far less debt accumulated along the way. Even accounting for possible differences in student populations or program focus, that gap is hard to justify from a pure financial standpoint.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means individual circumstances could be skewing these numbers. But the pattern is concerning enough that parents should ask pointed questions: Why is debt so much higher at Morehead for an associate degree? Are students transferring before completion and still carrying loans? For families prioritizing affordability and return on investment in a liberal arts associate program, Kentucky's community college system appears to offer substantially better outcomes.