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

Similar programs across Illinois suggest first-year earnings around $42,000—essentially matching the state median for liberal arts degrees but about $6,000 above the national benchmark. The estimated $31,000 in debt produces a manageable 0.74 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates would owe roughly nine months of their first year's salary. By year four, earnings climb to nearly $48,000, which represents decent growth for a general liberal arts degree.

The real question is trajectory. Liberal arts programs at Illinois schools show enormous variation—from DePaul's $84,000 to others clustered in the mid-$40,000s—and we don't have specific data on where Blackburn's graduates typically land. The four-year figure suggests this program performs reasonably within its peer group, but without actual outcomes from Blackburn's own graduates, you're working with approximations based on how similar programs fare statewide.

For a family considering this investment, the debt load appears reasonable relative to peer programs, and over half of Blackburn's students receive Pell grants, suggesting the school serves families with financial need. The key uncertainty is whether this specific program will mirror the state average or deliver something significantly different—information that simply isn't available yet for this small graduating cohort.