Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at West Kentucky Community and Technical College

West Kentucky Community and Technical College's Liberal Arts program delivers below-average results compared to other Kentucky options. At $26,590 in first-year earnings, graduates trail the state median by about $700—putting this in the 40th percentile among Kentucky programs. More concerning, top Kentucky community colleges like Jefferson and Gateway are producing graduates who earn $10,000 more annually right out of the gate, suggesting location and employment networks may matter significantly for this degree.

The financial picture does have a silver lining: relatively modest debt of $9,531 keeps the burden manageable, with graduates owing just over four months of first-year salary. That's lower than both state and national averages. Earnings also show healthy growth, climbing 22% to $32,510 by year four, which suggests graduates are finding their footing in the workforce even if they start behind peers elsewhere.

For families considering this program, the key question is geography. If staying in the Paducah area is essential, these numbers represent a low-risk path to a credential. But students willing to attend other Kentucky community colleges—particularly those near Louisville or Lexington—would likely see better employment outcomes with similar debt loads. The modest debt prevents this from being a poor investment, but it's not the strongest liberal arts value in the state.