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

Barnard graduates leave with just $14,970 in debt—remarkably low compared to the $25,000 median for similar programs in New York and among the lowest 5% nationally. This matters enormously when weighing the uncertainty around post-graduation earnings. Since Barnard's sample size is too small for the Department of Education to report actual outcomes, we're looking at estimates based on 22 comparable liberal arts programs across New York, which suggest around $35,800 in first-year earnings.

That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 means graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in under six months of gross salary, assuming they match the state estimate. However, the earnings picture carries real uncertainty. While the estimate aligns closely with the national median for liberal arts degrees ($36,340), actual reported outcomes from top New York programs vary wildly—from Cornell's $46,000 to Molloy's nearly $75,000. Without knowing where Barnard falls in that range, you're making a calculation based on peer program performance, not this school's track record.

The low debt load provides crucial flexibility. If your student lands at the lower end of that earnings spectrum, they won't face crushing payments. If Barnard's actual outcomes exceed the state median—entirely possible given its 8% admission rate and 1500 average SAT—the financial picture improves considerably. But make this decision knowing you're betting on institutional quality more than proven outcomes data.