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

Alverno graduates earn nearly $45,000 right after graduation—placing this program in the 88th percentile nationally for liberal arts degrees. That's impressive until you examine the price tag: $43,066 in median debt, making this one of the most expensive liberal arts programs in the country (95th percentile for debt). Within Wisconsin, the picture gets murkier. While Alverno's first-year earnings exceed the state median for this degree, they lag behind UW-Green Bay by over $9,000 and trail several other in-state public universities that likely cost significantly less.

The real concern is what happens after that strong start. Earnings drop to $41,193 by year four—an 8% decline that's particularly troubling given that debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.96. For a family weighing this investment, that means graduates carry debt nearly equal to their entire first year's salary, with no earnings growth trajectory to help manage it. Nearly half of Alverno's students receive Pell grants, suggesting many families are taking on substantial debt without the financial cushion to absorb setbacks.

If your child is considering Alverno, run the numbers against Wisconsin's public universities. Unless Alverno offers specific programming or a campus environment worth the premium, you're likely paying private school prices for earnings that, while solid initially, don't justify the debt burden compared to more affordable in-state options.