Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at North Central Missouri College

North Central Missouri College manages to keep debt reasonable at $9,638, but the first-year earnings of $24,483 rank in just the 29th percentile nationally—and while the 40th percentile within Missouri sounds more competitive, that still means most comparable programs in the state deliver better outcomes. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39 looks manageable on paper, but the starting salary itself is concerning, falling nearly $3,000 below the state median and almost $7,000 below top programs like Three Rivers College.

The strong earnings growth—29% over four years—is the program's most compelling feature, lifting graduates from $24,483 to $31,673. This suggests the associate's degree does open doors to better opportunities, though even at year four, earnings remain modest. For families where minimizing debt is paramount and the student plans to continue working in Missouri, this could work as an affordable stepping stone. However, students who need to start earning immediately after graduation should know they'll likely be making less than peers from other Missouri community colleges, at least initially.

If your child is committed to this path, insist on a clear plan for how they'll leverage that earnings growth—whether through job advancement, bachelor's degree completion, or skill development—because the value here depends entirely on what happens after graduation.