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

Wilson Community College's Liberal Arts associate degree starts slow but shows impressive momentum—graduates earning $23,530 initially see their pay jump 56% to $36,721 within four years, outpacing many peers in North Carolina. That growth trajectory matters more than the below-average starting salary, though it's worth noting this program sits at just the 40th percentile among NC's 66 Liberal Arts programs. The $10,000 debt load is manageable, representing less than half a first-year salary and slightly below the national median.

The challenge here is the small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates in this dataset means individual circumstances heavily influence these numbers. One student landing a particularly good or bad job can skew the entire picture. That said, the earnings growth pattern suggests graduates are finding traction in the job market over time, even if they're not landing strong positions immediately after graduation.

For parents, this comes down to cost and alternatives. At $10,000 in debt, you're looking at minimal financial risk, which makes this a reasonable stepping stone if your student plans to transfer to a four-year program or needs flexibility. However, if this is a terminal degree, compare carefully with nearby programs like Randolph Community College ($40,145 starting) or Beaufort County Community College ($38,009), which show significantly stronger initial outcomes in the same field.