Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at American University

A selective private university charging students an estimated $27,000 in debt for earnings that peer programs nationally put at $36,340—that's a concerning gap, especially in a city where similar liberal arts programs typically produce first-year earnings above $58,000. Georgetown's nearby liberal arts graduates earn nearly double at $66,719, suggesting that American University's broader humanities track may lack the career-focused positioning or network strength that DC employers value.

The 0.74 debt-to-earnings ratio looks manageable on paper, but these national estimates don't capture what makes DC different: this is a city with competitive entry-level salaries where even Trinity Washington's liberal arts graduates clear $50,000. If American University's actual outcomes track closer to national norms than DC norms, graduates face the uncomfortable reality of metro-area living costs on distinctly below-market earnings. For a school with a 1392 average SAT and 47% admission rate, you'd expect stronger alumni placement.

Before committing to this path, press the university for actual placement data on their liberal arts graduates—where they work, what they earn, how quickly they advance. The broad "liberal arts" umbrella often masks wildly different outcomes depending on whether students pursue targeted internships, double majors, or specific skill development. Without that clarity, you're betting $27,000 on a program whose true value proposition in DC's job market remains unclear.