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

Among Mississippi's community college liberal arts programs, Northeast Mississippi Community College outperforms the state median despite landing in the bottom 15% nationally. For families focused on minimizing debt while staying in-state, the $7,011 price tag is remarkably affordable—about 36% less than the national median for this degree. The challenge is that first-year earnings of $21,819 reflect Mississippi's depressed wage environment, where even above-average outcomes lag far behind national norms.

The encouraging part of this story is momentum: graduates see earnings jump 46% by year four to $31,808, moving them closer to what liberal arts associate graduates earn nationally right after graduation. This suggests the degree functions as intended—providing foundational coursework that becomes more valuable once students either transfer to four-year programs or accumulate work experience. The debt burden remains manageable throughout, with the 0.32 debt-to-earnings ratio well below concerning thresholds.

For Mississippi families, particularly the 58% receiving Pell grants, this represents a practical pathway. Your child won't graduate wealthy, but they also won't be trapped by debt, and their earnings trajectory shows real growth potential. The key question is whether they'll stay in Mississippi (where wages remain constrained) or use this as a springboard elsewhere.