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

Bennington College's selective liberal arts program carries an estimated $30,644 in debt—about $3,600 more than the national median—while similar Vermont bachelor's programs in this field produce first-year earnings around $42,000. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.73 sits in reasonable territory, though it's worth noting this estimate comes from just three comparable programs in the state, making it a less certain picture than you'd get from schools with published outcomes.

The estimated earnings actually edge slightly above the national median of $36,340, which is encouraging for a humanities-focused degree. However, Vermont's liberal arts landscape shows dramatic variation—some programs lead to $71,000+ salaries while others bottom out under $20,000. Without Bennington's specific graduate outcomes, it's unclear where on that spectrum these students actually land, and the school's high selectivity (SAT scores averaging 1358) doesn't guarantee stronger earnings in this field.

The estimated debt load here translates to roughly $350 monthly in loan payments on a standard repayment plan—manageable on $42,000 annually, but only if those peer-program estimates hold true for Bennington specifically. Given the lack of actual data and the wide variance among Vermont schools, families should press the admissions office for concrete placement information and alumni outcomes before committing to what could be $120,000+ in total costs.