Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Moreno Valley College

Moreno Valley College's Liberal Arts associate's degree starts slow but shows something worth noting: graduates see their earnings jump 40% by year four, reaching $33,630. That's actually above California's median for this program ($27,524), placing it at the 40th percentile statewide—middle-of-the-pack among 133 California schools offering similar degrees.

The first year out is harder. At $24,046, graduates earn less than typical liberal arts associate's holders both nationally and in California. But the relatively modest $11,167 in debt means the initial financial hit is manageable. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46 is reasonable for an associate's program, and that burden becomes even lighter as earnings climb in subsequent years. Compare this to top California performers like National University ($41,545) and you'll see the gap, but Moreno Valley's trajectory suggests graduates are finding their footing in the job market.

For families, this program represents a low-risk path to credentials, particularly if your student needs time to figure out their direction while building transferable skills. The debt won't be crushing, and the earning pattern indicates graduates are advancing into better positions within a few years. Just set realistic expectations about that first-year salary—it's genuinely low and may require family support or a second income source initially.