Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Rowan College of South Jersey-Cumberland Campus

Rowan College of South Jersey-Cumberland delivers something rare in community college liberal arts programs: outcomes that exceed state averages without piling on debt. With first-year earnings of $26,187, graduates here earn more than the typical New Jersey liberal arts associate degree holder ($25,541), placing this program in the 60th percentile statewide—a solid showing given that some NJ programs produce graduates earning nearly twice as much.

The debt picture makes this program particularly accessible. At $11,084, borrowing sits just above both state and national medians, but the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 means graduates can realistically pay this down within a couple years of full-time work. For a campus where 39% of students receive Pell grants, this manageable debt load matters significantly. Earnings also trend upward to $29,130 by year four, suggesting graduates either advance in their roles or successfully transfer to bachelor's programs.

The real consideration here is the absolute earnings level. Starting at $26,000 is modest, even for an associate degree, and while this program performs respectably against New Jersey peers, it trails the state's top community college liberal arts programs by several thousand dollars annually. Parents should view this as a low-risk foundational credential—affordable enough to avoid financial regret, but likely most valuable as a stepping stone to further education or specific career training rather than a terminal degree.