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

A $35,800 starting salary—typical for Liberal Arts programs across New York—paired with roughly $25,000 in debt creates a manageable but modest financial picture. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69 sits well below the danger zone, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off loans in less than a year if they devoted their entire salary to it (though reality, of course, demands rent and groceries too). What's striking, though, is the enormous range within New York itself: the top Liberal Arts programs produce graduates earning $45,000 to $75,000, more than double what similar programs typically deliver.

The challenge with Canisius's program is that insufficient graduate data prevents us from knowing whether its outcomes align with these statewide averages or fall elsewhere on that spectrum. Given that the school admits 82% of applicants and serves a significant population of Pell grant recipients, it's fulfilling an important access mission—but whether that translates to competitive career outcomes remains unclear. The $36,300 national median suggests these earnings estimates aren't outliers, but parents should recognize they're working with educated guesses rather than track records.

The practical question: can your family afford to take this bet without knowing the specific odds? If your child needs this bachelor's degree as a stepping stone to graduate school or specific careers, and the debt load stays near this estimate, it's financially survivable. But if employment right after graduation is the plan, understanding why the outcomes vary so dramatically across New York programs would help determine if this is the right choice.