Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Shorter College

Shorter College's Liberal Arts associate's degree produces earnings of just $17,065 one year after graduation—less than minimum wage for full-time work—while graduates carry $37,242 in debt. This program ranks in the bottom 10% both nationally and within Arkansas, where the typical graduate from this program earns $27,227. Even among Arkansas's community colleges, Shorter's outcomes trail dramatically: nearby schools like Black River Technical College ($33,747) and NorthWest Arkansas Community College ($30,703) produce earnings nearly double what Shorter graduates achieve.

The debt load amplifies the concern. At 2.18 times first-year earnings, graduates would need to dedicate more than two full years of income just to cover student loans—and that's before living expenses. This debt level is more than triple both the national and state medians for this program. While earnings do grow 14% by year four, reaching $19,438 still leaves graduates earning less than half what their peers at other Arkansas schools make.

With 83% of students receiving Pell grants, Shorter serves a predominantly low-income population who can least afford to take on debt that their post-graduation earnings won't support. For families considering this program, the math is stark: your child could attend several Arkansas community colleges offering the same degree and emerge with both lower debt and earnings that are 50-90% higher. Unless there are compelling personal circumstances tying you to Shorter specifically, other in-state options offer substantially better returns.