Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at California State University-Dominguez Hills

CSU-Dominguez Hills graduates with liberal arts degrees earn less than the national average for this major but outperform the California median by about $2,700—landing in the 60th percentile among the state's 80 programs. That matters because most students attend in-state, and at $15,453 in median debt (among the lowest 5% nationally for this degree), graduates face a manageable financial burden even with modest starting salaries around $33,600. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46 means borrowers can likely pay down loans within a few years.

The catch is minimal earnings growth—just 3% over four years suggests graduates hit their earning ceiling quickly. While the school's 91% admission rate and high Pell Grant enrollment (61%) reflect its mission serving working-class students, families should recognize the career limitations inherent in a general liberal arts degree. Top California programs in this field earn 70% more, though they likely have more selective admissions and stronger alumni networks.

For a student who needs an affordable bachelor's degree and plans to leverage it for career advancement in their current field or as a stepping stone to graduate school, the low debt load makes this viable. But a student expecting the degree itself to unlock substantially higher wages will likely be disappointed by both the starting salary and the flat earnings trajectory.