Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at South Florida State College

South Florida State College's Liberal Arts associate degree graduates earn $20,378 one year out—about $6,600 below the state median and $7,000 below the national average for this program. Among Florida's 55 schools offering this degree, it ranks in just the 25th percentile, meaning three-quarters of comparable programs deliver better earning outcomes. Even other Florida community colleges like Hillsborough and Florida State College at Jacksonville see graduates earning over $30,000, nearly 50% more.

The one bright spot is the modest debt load of $5,908, well below both state and national medians. This keeps the debt-to-earnings ratio at a manageable 0.29, meaning graduates owe less than three months of first-year income. For a program serving a high proportion of Pell-eligible students (44%), this restrained borrowing matters. Still, low debt doesn't offset inadequate earnings—graduates are starting their careers at near-poverty wages that will make it difficult to advance financially, even without heavy loan burdens.

This program appears to serve primarily as a stepping stone for students planning to transfer to a four-year institution. If your child intends to stop at the associate level, these earnings figures should be concerning. For transfer-focused students, the low debt provides some cushion, but you'll want to verify strong articulation agreements with bachelor's programs that show substantially better outcomes.