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

The $29,000 starting salary will likely alarm you, but here's what matters: graduates see 73% earnings growth by year four, reaching $50,537—well above both the national and California medians for this degree. Among California's 80 liberal arts programs, this lands at the 40th percentile, meaning it's middle-of-the-pack regionally even with that low first-year figure. The saving grace is remarkably low debt at $13,775, less than half the national average and among the lowest 5% nationally for this program.

That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47 means graduates owe less than half their first-year salary, making the immediate post-graduation period financially manageable despite modest starting pay. With 55% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are already stretched thin—the combination of accessible admission, low debt, and strong earnings trajectory creates a workable path for students who need to stay close to home in the Central Valley.

The program won't launch your child into the top tier of liberal arts outcomes (compare to National University's $57,429), but it delivers solid mid-career earnings without burying graduates in debt. If your student needs an affordable four-year degree with room for career growth, this represents reasonable value—just be prepared for a lean first year out.