Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College

At roughly $26,000 out the gate, Southeast Kentucky CTC's liberal arts associate's degree earns below what most Kentucky two-year colleges deliver—ranking around the 40th percentile statewide. Compare that to Jefferson or Gateway community colleges, where similar graduates earn $36,000+, or even Bluegrass CTC at $30,000. The earnings barely budge over four years, reaching just $27,469, which suggests graduates aren't climbing into roles that reward experience.

The debt load of $8,900 is manageable—lower than both state and national medians—and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.34 means students could reasonably pay this off within a year or two of disciplined payments. For a family on a tight budget (40% of students receive Pell grants here), that relatively light debt matters. But the core issue remains: you're still starting at $26,000 in Cumberland, Kentucky, where cost of living is low but so are wages.

If your child needs an affordable credential close to home and plans to transfer to a four-year school, this program keeps debt low while checking that box. But if they're stopping at the associate's degree, understand they'll likely earn $8,000-$10,000 less annually than peers at Kentucky's stronger community colleges—a gap that compounds to real money over a career. The value here is accessibility and affordability, not earnings power.