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

Baker College's liberal arts program delivers surprisingly strong earnings—$42,426 in the first year puts graduates well above both the national median ($36,340) and Michigan's median ($37,904). Among Michigan's 29 programs, this ranks in the 60th percentile, trailing only Spring Arbor and Siena Heights among accessible options. For a school with an 88% admission rate, these outcomes punch above their weight class.

The challenge is cost. At $44,313 in median debt, graduates carry roughly $14,000 more than the typical Michigan liberal arts graduate and significantly more than the national median of $27,000. That puts the debt-to-earnings ratio at 1.04—manageable, but high for a field where earnings don't show growth between year one and year four. This debt level ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally, meaning 95% of similar programs graduate students with less debt.

For parents weighing this option: your child would likely earn more here than at most Michigan liberal arts programs, but they'll also take on substantially more debt to get there. The math works if those $42,000 starting earnings are reliable, but there's no room for error given the flat earnings trajectory. If cost is a primary concern, compare carefully against state universities where in-state tuition might deliver similar outcomes with less debt burden.