Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Somerset Community College

Somerset Community College's Liberal Arts program produces earnings that trail both state and national averages—$24,279 in the first year versus around $27,000 for both benchmarks—landing it in just the 40th percentile statewide. That's a significant gap when you consider that Kentucky's top community college programs in this field start graduates at $30,000 to $36,000. The debt load of $12,625 isn't catastrophic, but paired with below-average earnings, it creates a debt-to-income ratio that's higher than you'd want to see for an associate degree.

The 21% earnings growth to $29,440 by year four offers some reassurance that graduates aren't stuck at entry-level wages forever, and the relatively contained debt means students aren't being buried financially. For families in Somerset's service area—where 43% of students receive Pell grants—this may still serve as an accessible stepping stone. However, if your child is considering liberal arts at the associate level in Kentucky, programs at Jefferson, Gateway, or even Bluegrass Community and Technical College deliver substantially better first-year outcomes with similar debt levels.

The bottom line: This works as an affordable credential for students who need to stay local, but it's not competitive with Kentucky's stronger community college options. If transferring to a four-year program is the goal, make sure those credits will move with your student—otherwise, the modest earnings may not justify even this moderate debt.