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

Belmont's liberal arts program outperforms most similar programs nationally, landing in the 73rd percentile—but the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could shift dramatically year to year. Still, the pattern is encouraging: graduates start at $41,245 and see robust 44% earnings growth to nearly $60,000 by year four. That progression suggests students are finding decent career traction, though within Tennessee, the program sits closer to the middle of the pack at the 60th percentile, trailing schools like Lee University and Middle Tennessee State.

The debt picture is actually better than the national norm, with graduates owing about $29,438—roughly $2,500 less than typical liberal arts debt elsewhere. That translates to a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71, meaning graduates could reasonably pay off their loans within a few years if they prioritize it. Given Belmont's 96% admission rate and relatively low Pell grant population, this seems to work better for students with existing financial support rather than those relying heavily on loans.

The caveat here is that small sample warning—these numbers could look very different for your child's cohort. If your student is genuinely passionate about liberal arts and has family support to manage the debt, Belmont offers a solid mid-tier option. But if maximizing early earnings matters, other Tennessee schools show stronger outcomes in this same field.