Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Western Nevada College

Western Nevada College's liberal arts associate's degree outperforms the national average by nearly $5,200 in first-year earnings—landing in the 84th percentile nationally—while keeping debt manageable at $12,000. That's a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37, meaning graduates can realistically pay down their loans within a year or two of focused repayment. What makes this program particularly noteworthy is the 35% earnings bump from year one to year four, climbing from $32,453 to $43,736. This suggests graduates are either leveraging the degree for job advancement or transferring to complete bachelor's programs that boost their earning power.

Within Nevada, the picture is more competitive. This program sits at the 60th percentile statewide, trailing Truckee Meadows Community College's $37,415 but significantly ahead of College of Southern Nevada's $25,433. Still, matching the state median while delivering above-national earnings represents solid value, especially for a two-year degree with relatively low debt.

For parents considering this program, the combination of strong earnings growth and contained debt makes it a reasonable stepping stone—whether your child plans to enter the workforce immediately or transfer to a four-year institution. Just understand that staying in-state, the program performs well but not exceptionally compared to other Nevada options.