Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Neosho County Community College

Neosho County's liberal arts associate degree costs less than both state and national averages ($8,600 versus $9,500 in Kansas and $10,950 nationally), but the small graduating class—fewer than 30 students—makes these numbers harder to trust. Still, the pattern looks straightforward: graduates start at $27,437 and reach $35,316 within four years, a 29% jump that suggests the degree opens doors to better opportunities over time. Within Kansas, this program ranks in the 60th percentile for earnings, meaning it outperforms most community college options in the state, though it trails schools like Washburn and Kansas City Kansas CC by a noticeable margin.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.31 is manageable—graduates owe about four months of their first-year salary—which matters for students who need an affordable entry point into higher education. The real question is whether a general studies degree provides enough direction. These programs work best when students have a clear plan to transfer to a four-year school or enter fields where the associate credential opens specific doors. Without that plan, even modest debt can feel heavy.

For Kansas families looking at community college options, Neosho offers a low-cost foundation with reasonable outcomes, but it's worth comparing to programs at Johnson County or Butler if those are geographically feasible. The small sample size means one or two outliers could skew these numbers significantly.