Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Southeastern University

At just $19,475 in first-year earnings, Southeastern's liberal arts associate program produces outcomes well below what Florida students should expect. Even among Florida's 55 schools offering this degree—where the median graduate earns $26,978—this program falls in the bottom quarter. Nearby community colleges like Hillsborough and Florida State College at Jacksonville see graduates earning over $30,000, demonstrating that affordable Florida options exist with significantly better returns.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift with more data, but the gap is too large to ignore. When your child could earn 56% more by attending a Florida community college just an hour away, location convenience rarely justifies that trade-off. The $12,000 debt load isn't catastrophic, but paired with earnings that would struggle to cover basic living expenses in Lakeland, it creates an unnecessarily difficult start to working life.

If your child is set on Southeastern University specifically, this associate degree shouldn't be the path. The institution's bachelor's programs may offer better outcomes. Otherwise, Florida's community college system provides this same credential with far stronger earning potential—and that's the comparison that matters most for an in-state student.