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

At first glance, Rappahannock Community College's liberal arts certificate looks underwhelming—that $23,512 starting salary sits in just the 25th percentile nationally. But look closer at the trajectory: earnings jump 36% to nearly $32,000 by year four, which actually exceeds the national 75th percentile for this credential. Combined with minimal debt of $6,333 (about a third below the national median), this represents one of the better debt-to-earnings pictures you'll find for a community college certificate program.

The state context matters here. While this program ranks at the 40th percentile among Virginia's liberal arts certificates, several higher-earning options like Tidewater or Virginia Peninsula might require relocation from the rural Northern Neck region where Rappahannock serves. For students who need to stay local or start working immediately, the low debt load creates room for that early-career earnings growth to compound without heavy monthly payments dragging it down.

This certificate works best as a stepping stone—either into the workforce with minimal debt or toward further education with a manageable balance. If your student plans to stop at a certificate level, understand they're accepting a modest starting point in exchange for flexibility and low financial risk. The 36% earnings growth suggests many graduates successfully leverage this credential into better opportunities, but those first couple years will require financial discipline.