Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Southwest College for the Deaf

Southwest College for the Deaf's liberal arts program achieves something remarkable: despite serving a predominantly low-income student body (74% Pell recipients), graduates earn $36,240—placing them in the 95th percentile nationally and 80th percentile among Texas programs. These are serious outcomes for an associate's degree in a field often criticized for weak earnings. Graduates earn more than students from all but two liberal arts programs in Texas, matching outcomes from schools like Howard College.

The debt picture reinforces the value. At $14,233, borrowing sits well below the national average for liberal arts programs, and the 0.39 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates can reasonably manage payments even if they face the specialized employment challenges common among deaf professionals. The modest debt load, combined with strong first-year earnings, creates genuine financial breathing room.

The slight earnings dip by year four ($35,922) deserves attention but shouldn't overshadow the core value here. This program demonstrates that specialized support and community connections can drive outcomes that outperform the vast majority of generic liberal arts programs. For families of deaf students, this represents one of the strongest liberal arts investment profiles in Texas, combining accessibility with genuinely competitive career outcomes.