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

Yavapai College's liberal arts associate degree shows an unusual pattern that needs careful interpretation: graduates earn $36,742 initially—putting this program in the 95th percentile nationally—but then see earnings drop to $29,664 four years out. This likely reflects the reality that many students use this degree as a stepping stone, working while transferring to complete a bachelor's degree elsewhere. The initial earnings suggest strong local employment opportunities in Prescott, but the decline probably indicates students temporarily leaving the workforce or taking lower-paying jobs while finishing their education.

The debt picture is manageable at $9,946, lower than both state and national averages, and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.27 means graduates could reasonably pay off their loans in less than four months of gross pay. Among Arizona's 25 programs, this one lands at the 60th percentile—solid middle ground, though notably behind Mesa Community College's $46,084.

For parents, the key question is whether your student plans to transfer to a four-year program. If so, this represents affordable preparation with decent earning potential during the transition years. If they're planning to stop at the associate degree, those declining earnings are a red flag—this particular program appears optimized for transfer students, not terminal degrees.