Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at New Mexico Junior College

New Mexico Junior College manages something rare for a general studies associate's degree—graduates carry remarkably low debt at just $6,500, placing this program in the 95th percentile nationally for affordability. That's 40% less than the national median for this program and significantly below New Mexico's state median of $10,290. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.24, graduates aren't shouldering a crushing burden as they figure out their next steps.

The earnings picture is modest but competitive for New Mexico. While the $27,179 starting salary sits right at the national average, it actually outperforms most in-state options—ranking in the 60th percentile among New Mexico's 26 similar programs. More encouraging is the 21% earnings growth to $32,903 by year four, though keep in mind the small sample size (under 30 graduates) makes these figures less reliable than larger programs.

For families treating this as an affordable foundation—whether for transfer to a four-year school or entry into Hobbs's local job market—the low debt creates genuine flexibility. Your student won't be locked into immediate career decisions by loan payments. Just recognize that an associate's in general studies rarely leads directly to high-paying work; its value lies in keeping doors open while minimizing financial risk.