Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Metropolitan Community College
MO · Associate's Degree · CIP 24.01
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities degree from Metropolitan Community College earn a median salary of $45,091 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in MO, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $50,550. The degree typically pays for itself in 15.2 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$33,254
Typical Career
$45,091
Top Performers
$58,820
Estimated break-even: 15.2 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$301
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,758. Most students can comfortably afford about a $301 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.2x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.6x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Missouri buys what costs $0.89 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, Educational Services.
Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$50,550
Nominal: $45,091 in Missouri (COL 89.2% of national avg) · 12.1% higher purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $21,916 | $29,967 | $41,859 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $33,254 | $45,091 | $58,820 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $42,328 | $56,967 | $75,225 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $45,091 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in MO, which has a cost-of-living index of 89.2% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $45,091 × (1.0 ÷ 0.8920)
= $50,550 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The program prepares graduates for diverse career paths, with a significant portion entering the Health Care & Social Assistance sectors, which account for 26.4% and 25.4% of employment, followed by Manufacturing at 22.6%. The estimated break-even point compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 16.4 years, indicating a long-term return on investment. While the initial earnings may be modest, the potential for growth and stability in these industries suggests a viable career choice for students.
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Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.