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

Champlain College graduates with general studies degrees earn nearly double the national median for their field—$71,207 versus $36,340—placing them in the 95th percentile both nationally and within Vermont. This is exceptional for a liberal arts degree, particularly from a school with a 67% admission rate. The program outperforms even Vermont State University, the next highest earner in the state, by nearly $30,000. While the debt load sits somewhat above the ideal threshold at $24,000, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.34 means graduates owe just about four months of their first-year salary, which is highly manageable.

The numbers suggest Champlain has built something distinctive here, likely through curriculum design that emphasizes marketable skills or strong employer connections in Burlington's tech and business sectors. For context, a typical liberal arts graduate nationally earns $36,340—making monthly loan payments significantly more burdensome than what Champlain graduates face. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) provides reasonable confidence in these outcomes without the volatility of very small cohorts.

For families concerned about the practicality of a general studies degree, this program defies the stereotype. The combination of strong early earnings and reasonable debt makes this a solid financial foundation, especially for students who want broad exposure before specializing in their careers.