Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Alcorn State University

Alcorn State's Liberal Arts program produces troubling outcomes that fall well below what Mississippi students can achieve elsewhere. First-year earnings of $26,269 trail the state median by nearly $10,500—ranking in just the 25th percentile among Mississippi's liberal arts programs. Meanwhile, graduates carry $39,250 in debt, 34% more than the state median and among the highest 5% nationally for this field.

The debt-to-earnings burden tells the practical story: graduates owe 1.5 times their first-year salary, meaning they'll need roughly 18 months of gross income just to cover educational debt. Compare this to University of Southern Mississippi, where liberal arts graduates earn $37,800—offering 44% higher starting pay for similar in-state tuition. Jackson State produces even stronger outcomes at $41,812. Given that 77% of Alcorn students receive Pell grants, this debt load hits a particularly vulnerable population.

The hard reality: this program ranks in the 12th percentile nationally for earnings. While Alcorn State serves an important mission as an HBCU, prospective liberal arts students should seriously consider the in-state alternatives that deliver significantly better financial outcomes without requiring out-of-state tuition.