Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at University of North Georgia

University of North Georgia's liberal arts associate degree shows something unusual: graduates who start at $24,817 see their earnings jump 50% to $37,260 by year four. While that first-year figure sits below the national median for these programs, this trajectory matters more than the starting point—especially with just $12,000 in debt, which can be paid off relatively quickly at those higher earnings levels.

Within Georgia, this program performs at the 60th percentile, landing in the middle of the state's liberal arts offerings. The state's top programs like Georgia State start graduates about $4,000 higher, but those differences narrow considerably as UNG graduates gain experience. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48 remains manageable even in that lean first year, and becomes quite favorable as earnings rise.

The combination of moderate debt and strong earnings growth suggests this associate degree functions as intended—as a stepping stone. Whether graduates are transferring to complete bachelor's degrees or entering work that rewards experience over credentials, they're not saddled with debt that limits their options. For families looking at UNG's accessible admissions and relatively low-cost associate programs, this represents a financially conservative path with room for upward mobility.