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

Ashford graduates with this liberal arts degree hit earnings levels that exceed 95% of similar programs nationwide—$49,010 in the first year versus a national median of just $36,340. In California, where the typical liberal arts grad from this program earns $31,802, Ashford's numbers stand out even more dramatically. The $31,500 debt load is actually below the national median for this degree, resulting in a manageable 0.64 debt-to-earnings ratio.

The complication: earnings drop to $46,413 by year four, a 5% decline that's unusual for a bachelor's program. This could reflect a moderate sample size capturing a particular cohort's experience, or it might signal that these graduates face headwinds sustaining their initial earning power. The debt remains reasonable either way—you'd be paying off roughly two-thirds of your first year's salary—but the trajectory merits attention.

If your child is set on liberal arts and considering for-profit options, Ashford's outcomes here compete with California's top performers in this field. The early earnings justify the investment, but the earnings dip means graduates need to be strategic about career progression. This isn't a credential that guarantees upward momentum without deliberate effort.