Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton

With fewer than 30 graduates tracked, these numbers require some caution, but the trajectory here is worth noting: students start at $27,710 and reach $35,580 within four years—a 28% jump that outpaces typical associate-degree wage growth. That's solid momentum for a general studies program. The $8,950 debt load is manageable, translating to roughly four months of first-year earnings, and it's lower than both the state median ($10,428) and national median ($10,950) for similar programs.

This program sits comfortably in the middle of Arkansas's liberal arts associate offerings—60th percentile statewide—but notably trails the top performers by a wide margin. Arkansas Tech and Black River Technical graduates are earning $8,000 to $9,000 more annually after completion. That gap suggests if your student is considering general studies as a stepping stone to a bachelor's degree or specific career path, the choice of institution matters less than what comes next. The low debt makes this a relatively low-risk option for exploration or foundational coursework.

The practical takeaway: this works as an affordable entry point into higher education, especially for students still figuring out their direction. Just recognize that the earnings ceiling for an associate in liberal arts is modest, and the real value likely comes from transferring those credits toward a bachelor's degree rather than treating this as a terminal credential.