Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Alabama A & M University

The small sample size here demands caution, but the numbers tell a troubling story: graduates start at $28,877—well below Alabama's median for this major ($30,939) and far behind the national average ($36,340). That puts your child in the 18th percentile nationally, meaning four out of five similar programs produce stronger early earnings. The $33,000 debt burden creates a concerning 1.14 debt-to-earnings ratio, higher than typical for this field. While earnings do climb 38% to nearly $40,000 by year four, that growth trajectory still leaves graduates chasing programs like Athens State ($50,903) or UAB ($40,968).

The one bright spot: that $33,000 debt figure actually ranks favorably compared to national averages, suggesting the university may be managing costs reasonably well. And serving a predominantly Pell-eligible population (64%) means Alabama A&M is providing access to students who might not have other options. Still, starting below $30,000 with $33,000 in debt makes those first few years financially tight, particularly in a major that doesn't lead to a clear career path.

If your child is drawn to Alabama A&M specifically, understand they'll likely need graduate school or significant career development to reach competitive earnings. The small sample makes it impossible to know if these outcomes are typical or outliers—proceed carefully and have concrete plans for translating this degree into income.