Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Mount Wachusett Community College

Mount Wachusett Community College's liberal arts associate's degree lands in an awkward middle position—it beats the national median by a solid margin, but falls short of what other Massachusetts community colleges deliver. While first-year earnings of $28,600 exceed the national benchmark, they trail the state median by nearly $2,600. More tellingly, nearby community colleges like Bunker Hill and MassBay report first-year earnings above $37,000 for the same credential, suggesting that location and employer networks matter significantly in Massachusetts.

The financial burden here is manageable at $11,000 in debt—well below concerning levels with a 0.38 debt-to-earnings ratio. Graduates see steady income growth of 18% over four years, reaching nearly $34,000. However, this still ranks in just the 40th percentile among Massachusetts programs, meaning six out of ten comparable programs in the state produce better outcomes. For a family weighing community college options in Massachusetts, this creates a clear question: why settle for middle-of-the-pack results when higher-performing programs exist at similar institutions?

The program works as an affordable entry point to higher education, particularly for the 38% of students receiving Pell grants. But if your child can access other Massachusetts community colleges—especially those in the Boston area—the data suggests they could earn $5,000-$10,000 more annually with similar debt levels. Geography appears to be the limiting factor here, not the program itself.