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

Northeast Community College's liberal arts associate degree graduates earn above-average incomes while keeping debt manageable, though students should understand they're choosing a regional middle-of-the-pack option. First-year earnings of $30,292 beat the national median by $3,000 and place this program in the 74th percentile nationally—a solid performance for a general studies degree. Within Nebraska, however, this sits exactly at the state median, trailing the top in-state option (Metropolitan Community College Area) by nearly $3,000.

The financial math works well here: $12,000 in debt against first-year earnings yields a 0.40 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates dedicate less than half their first year's salary to educational debt. That's reasonable for an associate degree, and the 20% earnings growth by year four ($36,248) suggests decent career momentum. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) provides reasonable reliability without major red flags about program scale.

For Nebraska families weighing community college options, this represents a safe choice rather than an exceptional one. If your student prioritizes staying close to Norfolk or has specific reasons to attend Northeast, the economics support that decision. But if flexibility exists, Metropolitan Community College Area's $3,000 earnings advantage—translating to roughly $12,000 more income over four years—merits serious consideration, especially since it likely carries similar debt levels.