Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at St Cloud Technical and Community College

St. Cloud Technical and Community College's Liberal Arts associate program outperforms 95% of similar programs nationally—an impressive feat for a general studies degree. Graduates earn $37,802 in their first year, nearly $11,000 above the national median and solidly above Minnesota's state average of $32,056. That's real money, though among Minnesota's community colleges specifically, this program sits around the middle of the pack (60th percentile), with programs like Winona State and Inver Hills pushing into the mid-$40,000s.

The debt picture is notably favorable: at $15,111, it's below both state and national medians, and the 0.40 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe less than half their first-year salary. Earnings also grow to $41,810 by year four—an 11% bump that shows career progression rather than stagnation. For comparison, many liberal arts programs see graduates treading water in the high $20,000s indefinitely.

For a community college associate degree, these numbers work. The debt burden is manageable, earnings start at a livable wage in Minnesota, and there's clear upward momentum. This isn't the earnings ceiling you'd want for a four-year degree, but as a stepping stone or credential on its own, it delivers substantially more value than most liberal arts programs nationwide.