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

Riverland Community College graduates with associate degrees in liberal arts earn nearly $39,000 in their first year—an impressive figure that crushes the national median for this program by over $11,000. Among Minnesota's 39 schools offering this degree, Riverland places solidly in the middle, trailing only four institutions including some community colleges with notably higher outcomes. The 95th percentile national ranking is meaningful: this program delivers earnings that put graduates ahead of nearly all similar programs across the country.

The tradeoff comes with debt. At $15,375, graduates carry roughly $2,200 more than the Minnesota median and $4,400 more than the national benchmark for this degree. While the 0.40 debt-to-earnings ratio remains manageable—graduates earn enough to cover their debt in less than five months of income—it's worth asking why debt runs higher here when comparable outcomes exist at nearby Century College with presumably lower borrowing levels.

For families in southern Minnesota where job opportunities may be more limited, Riverland appears to connect students effectively to decent-paying work, likely in fields like healthcare support, business, or public services. The premium on debt is real but not deal-breaking given the strong earnings performance. Parents should verify that the extra borrowing aligns with their student's specific program pathway within this broad degree category.