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

A bachelor's in liberal arts at a private institution typically means hefty tuition, but similar programs in Massachusetts suggest a debt load of about $27,000—manageable relative to what many students face at comparable schools. First-year earnings around $39,000 place this in line with the state median for liberal arts programs, yielding a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68. That means graduates would owe roughly eight months of their first year's salary, which falls within the range most financial aid experts consider reasonable.

What's harder to assess is trajectory. Liberal arts degrees often show delayed returns as graduates find their footing in fields ranging from nonprofits to corporate communications to graduate school preparation. The state's top liberal arts programs show enormous variation—from MIT's $103,000 earners to more modest outcomes at regional universities—suggesting that individual outcomes depend heavily on factors beyond the credential itself. For a school with an 87% admission rate and relatively low Pell enrollment, Assumption appears positioned in the middle tier of Massachusetts liberal arts colleges.

The practical question: is this worth private school tuition when state universities offer similar programs? Based on peer data, the answer hinges on financial aid packages and what Assumption specifically offers in terms of advising, internship networks, or graduate school placement. If your child qualifies for substantial grants that bring costs closer to public university levels, the estimated debt burden looks sustainable. At full freight, you'd want concrete evidence of career support that justifies the premium.