Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Walla Walla Community College

Walla Walla Community College's Liberal Arts associate degree starts significantly behind the pack, with first-year earnings of $24,084 falling well below both Washington's median ($28,025) and the national average ($27,248). Within Washington's community college landscape, this program sits at the 40th percentile—meaning six out of ten similar programs deliver better immediate returns. Compare that to top performers like Spokane Community College, where graduates earn $34,583, and the gap becomes hard to ignore.

The silver lining is solid earnings growth: a 39% jump to $33,358 by year four suggests graduates find their footing eventually. The debt load of $11,000 is manageable and close to typical for these programs, though still slightly above Washington's median. Still, that initial earning period matters—it's when new graduates are most financially vulnerable and when loan payments begin.

For families considering this path, understand you're accepting a slower start in exchange for the flexibility of a general liberal arts foundation. If your student has a clear transfer plan to a four-year school or specific career pathway, that trade-off might make sense. But if the associate degree is the endpoint, other Washington community colleges are delivering stronger immediate outcomes for similar debt.