Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at College of Our Lady of the Elms

With estimated debt of $26,750 against first-year earnings around $39,000, this liberal arts program lands squarely in the middle of what similar Massachusetts programs typically produce—neither a bargain nor a financial burden. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68 suggests graduates could reasonably manage loan payments, though these figures come from peer programs across the state rather than Elms' specific outcomes.

The estimated earnings match both the state and national median almost exactly, which means this represents a fairly typical liberal arts outcome. That said, the comparison list reveals the wide range in this field: MIT liberal arts grads start at over $100,000 while most state schools cluster in the low-to-mid $40,000s. Where Elms fits on that spectrum remains unclear given the lack of program-specific data. The school serves a significant number of Pell-eligible students (42%), suggesting it may attract students who need the degree to work full-time immediately after graduation rather than pursue graduate school or unpaid internships.

For anxious parents, the takeaway is this: based on comparable Massachusetts liberal arts programs, your child would likely graduate with manageable debt and earnings that allow repayment—but without this school's actual track record, you're betting on the program performing like its peers. If your child needs specific career outcomes, press the admissions office for more concrete graduate employment data or consider programs with transparent outcomes.