Certificate (1-2 years)-13% vs national median165 grads tracked
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Mountain Empire Community College
Ranked 50th of 55 certificate (1-2 years) programs in Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$21,257
middle 50%: $16,960 – $27,886
Median · 5 years out
$38,035
middle 50%: $26,704 – $48,682
Median · 10 years out
$50,050
middle 50%: $33,699 – $71,728
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (certificate (1-2 years)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Liberal Arts certificate holders at Mountain Empire Community College earn a median of $21,257 initially. Salaries reach $50k by year 10.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
11.5 yrs
≈ $14,940 total interest
Same major at other universities
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 12
$39,474 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Highlands Community College
$39,360 · 5 yrs out
Central Virginia Community College
$39,300 · 5 yrs out
Danville Community College
$38,992 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Western Community College
$38,967 · 5 yrs out
Wytheville Community College
$38,226 · 5 yrs out
Southside Virginia Community College
$38,058 · 5 yrs out
SUNY Fulton-Montgomery Community College
$37,875 · 5 yrs out
Eastern Shore Community College
$37,198 · 5 yrs out
New River Community College
$37,059 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 9
$36,732 · 5 yrs out
Iowa Lakes Community College
$31,024 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Mountain Empire Community College
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$64,930 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$63,309 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$59,216 · 5 yrs out
Natural Resources and Conservation (Associate)
$57,867 · 5 yrs out
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Associate)
$57,867 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Certificate)
$57,562 · 5 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Certificate)
$57,562 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate)
$51,418 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$48,694 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$47,682 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$47,392 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$46,746 · 5 yrs out