Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Seattle Central College

Seattle Central's Liberal Arts associate's program sits right at the median for Washington state, with graduates earning $28,025 in their first year—exactly matching the state benchmark and beating the national average by about $800. The debt load of $9,500 is manageable, translating to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.34, and graduates see solid earnings growth of 23% by year four. Among Washington's 38 schools offering this program, Seattle Central ranks in the 60th percentile, meaning it outperforms most community colleges but trails specialized institutions like Northwest University by a significant margin.

The practical reality here is that this is a stepping stone degree with limited immediate earning power, though the low debt keeps the downside risk contained. At under $10,000 in borrowing, students can reasonably pay this off even with entry-level wages in the $28,000 range. The uptick to $34,595 by year four suggests graduates are finding better positions or continuing their education, though these earnings still require careful budgeting in Seattle's expensive housing market.

For families considering this path, the numbers work if your student plans to transfer to a four-year program or has a clear career trajectory in mind. As a terminal degree, it leaves graduates earning below what's needed for financial independence in the Seattle area, but as an affordable foundation for further education, the minimal debt makes it a sensible choice.