Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Spartanburg Methodist College

The first-year earnings here—just $14,509—should worry any parent. That's barely above half-time minimum wage work, and it places graduates in the bottom 10% of South Carolina's liberal arts associate programs. While earnings eventually climb to $27,775 by year four, that still trails behind what graduates from nearby community colleges like Spartanburg Community College ($28,222) and Greenville Technical College ($27,684) earn right out of the gate.

The $12,000 debt load isn't catastrophic, sitting close to state and national medians. But when your first-year earnings are this low, any debt becomes harder to manage. The nearly doubling of earnings over four years suggests graduates may be taking time to find stable employment or need additional credentials to access better-paying work. Compare this to the state's technical colleges, where students start closer to $28,000-$30,000 immediately.

For an associate degree that costs similar amounts, South Carolina's technical college system offers substantially better immediate earning potential. If your child is set on liberal arts, consider whether starting at a community college with stronger employment outcomes—or planning for a bachelor's degree from the outset—makes more financial sense than this two-year program that leaves graduates scrambling in year one.