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

Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester's liberal arts associate program sits right in the middle of New Jersey's community college options—performing better than most in-state competitors (60th percentile) while landing slightly below the national median. Starting earnings of $26,187 trail the national average by about $1,000, but the program keeps debt manageable at $11,084, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 that borrowers can typically handle within a couple years of full-time work. The earnings trajectory shows modest but steady growth, reaching $29,130 by year four.

What matters here is context: while programs at Thomas Edison State University nearly double these earnings, that comparison is somewhat misleading given the different missions and student populations. Against peer community colleges in New Jersey, Rowan-Gloucester holds its own, though nearby Camden County and Burlington County offer slightly higher early earnings. The real story is that this program delivers what associate-level liberal arts programs typically deliver—foundational credentials at low cost rather than immediate career preparation.

For families seeking an affordable path to a four-year degree, this works. The debt burden won't derail transfer plans, and the earnings provide enough to help finance the next step. But students planning to enter the workforce directly after graduation should understand they're looking at sub-$30,000 salaries for several years—manageable with the low debt, but requiring careful financial planning.