Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Southern Maine Community College

Southern Maine Community College's general studies associate's degree produces graduates earning about $4,500 less than the typical Maine program in this field—landing in just the 40th percentile statewide. While first-year earnings of $27,742 edge slightly above the national median, they fall short of what students achieve at nearby community colleges like Kennebec Valley ($32,448) or Central Maine ($31,646). The debt load of $10,250 is manageable and actually $5,000 below Maine's median for these programs, but that advantage doesn't fully compensate for the earnings gap.

The 16% earnings growth to $32,087 by year four shows graduates can improve their position, though they're still playing catch-up with peers who started stronger elsewhere in the state. For a program serving many in-state students (Maine has limited options with just 14 schools offering this degree), the relatively low debt is a plus—you're looking at roughly four months of income to repay loans rather than six.

The core question is whether saving on debt matters enough when earnings lag behind. If your child plans to stay in Maine and needs an affordable entry point to higher education, this works as a stepping stone. But if they're comparing Maine community colleges specifically, the numbers suggest looking at Central Maine or Kennebec Valley first, where graduates start with a $4,000-$5,000 annual advantage for similar or only slightly higher debt.