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

Centre College's price tag—$27,000 in estimated debt for a selective liberal arts institution—delivers outcomes that look remarkably ordinary when viewed through peer program data. Similar liberal arts programs in Kentucky suggest first-year earnings around $35,000, putting this right at the state median but notably below what some Kentucky public universities report for their graduates in this major.

The 0.77 debt-to-earnings ratio based on comparable programs appears manageable on paper, and the estimated debt matches the national median exactly. However, context matters: Centre's 1345 average SAT and 54% admission rate signal a more selective environment than many Kentucky peers, yet the projected earnings don't reflect that selectivity premium. When Thomas More University's liberal arts graduates earn nearly $63,000 in their first year—almost double what similar programs typically produce—it raises questions about whether Centre's higher-cost private education translates to comparable career outcomes in this particular major.

For families considering a liberal arts degree here, understand that you're evaluating estimated figures based on state peers, not Centre's actual graduate outcomes. The lack of reported data means uncertainty about whether this specific program performs above or below these projections. If your student is committed to liberal arts broadly rather than Centre specifically, Kentucky's public universities offer similar projected outcomes with potentially lower debt loads—a comparison worth making when the financial picture relies entirely on what comparable programs typically deliver.