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

Beacon College's bachelor's program carries an estimated $30,624 in debt—roughly $5,000 above what's typical for Florida liberal arts programs—while projected first-year earnings mirror the state median at around $35,361. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.87 isn't alarming on its face, but it means graduates would need to dedicate nearly a full year's salary to repay their loans, a heavier burden than most Florida peers impose. Given that liberal arts programs at larger state schools like UCF and USF produce graduates earning $45,000-$48,000 annually with comparable or lower debt, the financial gap is worth noting.

The challenge here is that these figures come from peer institutions across Florida, not Beacon's own graduates, so there's inherent uncertainty about whether this specific program performs better or worse than the estimates suggest. Beacon serves a specialized mission as a college primarily for students with learning disabilities, which may explain both the selective admission (60% acceptance rate) and potentially different outcomes than traditional liberal arts programs. For families attracted to Beacon's support model, the financial picture suggests manageable but not exceptional returns—you'd be paying a premium in debt for an outcome that appears middle-of-the-road.

The straightforward takeaway: if Beacon's specialized environment is essential for your child's success, the debt load is workable but not negligible. If it's not, Florida offers stronger-earning liberal arts options at lower cost.