Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College

Rowan-Cabarrus delivers exactly what you'd expect from a community college liberal arts associate's: modest initial earnings with manageable debt. At $27,726 in the first year, graduates earn slightly above both the national and North Carolina medians for this program, landing in the 60th percentile statewide. The $8,719 in median debt is reasonable—about three months of first-year earnings—though it's worth noting that 73% of similar programs nationally carry less debt.

The real question is what your child plans to do next. This degree typically serves as a transfer foundation for a bachelor's, not a career endpoint. The 17% earnings bump to $32,427 by year four suggests some graduates find decent work with just the associate's, but compare that to top-performing NC programs like Randolph Community College ($40,145) or Beaufort County ($38,009), which place graduates in significantly stronger positions. The difference isn't the degree itself—it's likely regional job markets and what industries students move into.

If your child is set on transferring to a four-year school, this program works fine as an affordable stepping stone. If they're planning to stop at the associate's level, understand they're looking at entry-level wages that will require years to build meaningfully. The debt won't sink them, but the earnings ceiling is real.