Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Nash Community College

The small sample size here demands caution, but the numbers tell a concerning story about this associate's degree. Nash Community College graduates are earning barely above minimum wage—$26,973 in their first year—and while that climbs to $30,602 after four years, they're still trailing what graduates from Randolph Community College ($40,145) and several other North Carolina community colleges achieve right out of the gate.

The debt burden of $12,750 is manageable in absolute terms, but it's 70% higher than the typical North Carolina student borrows for this same degree ($7,500). When your first-year salary is under $27,000, even modest debt becomes a meaningful burden. The program does rank in the 60th percentile statewide, which sounds better than it is—it really just means most North Carolina liberal arts associate's programs struggle to generate strong earnings.

For a family weighing this option, the math is straightforward: if your student needs a two-year degree in this area, other North Carolina community colleges are delivering significantly better outcomes. If they're considering this as a transfer pathway to a four-year school, make sure the credits transfer cleanly and that they have a clear bachelor's degree plan in place. Without that next step, this credential alone leaves graduates earning well below what many skilled trades or healthcare certificates can command.