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

The small sample size here demands caution, but these numbers tell a troubling story: graduates are earning just $21,143 one year out—barely above minimum wage and less than half what the typical North Carolina liberal arts graduate makes. This ranks in the bottom 10% statewide, far behind what students are earning from similar programs at UNC-Chapel Hill ($37,709) or even East Carolina ($36,809). The debt load of nearly $25,000 might seem modest compared to some programs, but it's crushing when your first-year earnings don't even cover rent in most cities.

What's particularly concerning is that Appalachian State is a solid regional university with an 89% acceptance rate—this isn't a selective school where students might be pursuing passion projects with family money backing them. A quarter of students receive Pell grants, suggesting many come from families counting on college to improve their financial situation. Starting at $21,000 makes it nearly impossible to service student loans while covering basic expenses.

With fewer than 30 graduates in the data, it's possible this snapshot doesn't represent the typical experience. Perhaps these particular students went into AmeriCorps, graduate school, or part-time work. But parents should demand better information from the university before betting on this program, because if these numbers hold, their child would likely earn more skipping college and working full-time at $15 an hour.