Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Southwest Texas College

Southwest Texas College graduates from this program start at just $21,332—significantly below both the state median ($27,274) and national average—ranking in only the 25th percentile among Texas liberal arts associate programs. That's nearly $10,000 less than what graduates earn at top-performing Texas community colleges like Central Texas College or Austin Community College. While the 38% earnings growth over four years suggests graduates are gaining ground, they're playing catch-up from a very low baseline.

The silver lining here is debt: at under $7,000, it's roughly a third of the typical student loan burden for this degree. That low debt load, combined with the 0.33 debt-to-earnings ratio, means graduates should be able to pay off loans relatively quickly despite the modest starting salary. For a family that needs to minimize borrowing—particularly relevant given that 36% of students receive Pell grants—this represents manageable risk.

The challenge is whether four years of earnings growth compensates for the initial lag. By year four, graduates reach $29,330, which is still below where many comparable programs start. If your child plans to transfer to a four-year institution, this could serve as an affordable stepping stone. But if the associate's degree is the endpoint, understand that earning potential in Uvalde trails what's available at other Texas community colleges, even with the positive trajectory.