Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Mountwest Community and Technical College

Something strange is happening with Mountwest's Liberal Arts program—graduates start strong at $43,753 their first year out (beating 95% of similar programs nationally and statewide), but earnings crater to just $20,885 by year four. With only a small handful of graduates in this dataset, this dramatic swing likely reflects individual career paths rather than any inherent program weakness. Perhaps a few graduates took high-paying initial jobs, then shifted to graduate school, part-time work, or career changes.

Setting aside that volatility, the fundamental picture here is mixed. The $11,500 debt load is reasonable and manageable relative to that first-year salary. Among West Virginia's liberal arts programs, this ranks at the very top for earnings—even American Public University's $52,108 appears to be an outlier since Mountwest's initial earnings still outpace every other in-state option. The 41% Pell Grant population suggests the program serves students who need affordable pathways to further education or career entry.

The real question is sustainability. If your child plans to use this associate's degree as a stepping stone to a bachelor's program, the low debt and strong network in Huntington make sense. But if they're counting on stable earnings from the associate's alone, these numbers are too unreliable to bank on. The small sample size means you're essentially flying blind—wait to see more consistent data, or assume this functions primarily as an affordable transfer pathway rather than a terminal credential.