Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Weatherford College

Weatherford College's Liberal Arts associate's program sits squarely in the middle of the Texas landscape—60th percentile among state programs—but faces stiff competition from community colleges that deliver substantially better outcomes. While graduates here earn $34,934 four years out (slightly above the state median), that trails Central Texas College and Austin Community College by $4,500-5,000 annually. The 23% earnings growth over four years is encouraging, but the starting salary of $28,420 means graduates begin well below what they might earn at top-performing Texas community colleges.

The debt picture is reasonable at $10,507—just above the state median but manageable with a 0.37 debt-to-earnings ratio. For families prioritizing proximity to Weatherford or seeking a smaller college environment, this program won't saddle students with crushing debt. However, with 73 Texas schools offering this degree, location shouldn't be the only consideration.

The fundamental question is opportunity cost. Students heading into liberal arts should have clear transfer plans to a four-year institution, as the associate's alone leads to modest earnings. If Weatherford is chosen for convenience or cost, ensure those transfer credits will move seamlessly to the target bachelor's program. Otherwise, starting at one of the higher-performing community colleges in the state could provide more flexibility and better earnings during the transfer years.