Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at St Clair County Community College

St. Clair County Community College's Liberal Arts associate degree outperforms most similar programs nationwide—landing in the 71st percentile for earnings—while keeping debt well below the national average. At around $30,000 annually, graduates earn about $3,000 more than the typical liberal arts associate degree holder nationally and nearly $2,000 above Michigan's state median. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41 means students can reasonably expect to pay off their loans within months, not years, making this one of the more financially accessible paths into higher education.

The main limitation is minimal earnings growth: four years out, graduates see only a 2% bump in income. This suggests the associate degree opens doors to entry-level work but may not provide a clear advancement trajectory without additional credentials. Still, for families in Port Huron seeking an affordable college option—particularly those qualifying for Pell grants—the combination of manageable debt and above-average starting pay delivers solid value. While Oakland and Grand Rapids community colleges in Michigan produce higher-earning graduates, St. Clair's program costs less and still positions students ahead of most peers statewide.

For students planning to transfer to a four-year institution or use this as a stepping stone into the workforce, the numbers work. The low debt burden leaves room to continue education without financial strain.