Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Colorado Christian University

Similar general studies programs in Colorado suggest first-year earnings around $39,000—slightly above the national median for this field but accompanied by an estimated $27,000 in debt. That debt load means graduates would be dedicating about 70% of their first year's salary to what they borrowed, a manageable but not comfortable ratio for a degree that typically leads to modest starting salaries.

The real challenge here is uncertainty. With such limited graduate outcome data that the Department of Education can't publish actual figures, you're essentially flying blind on what Colorado Christian's specific program delivers. The four Colorado schools with reported data show a $7,600 range in outcomes—from Colorado State-Fort Collins at $34,500 to Colorado Mesa at $42,100—meaning this program could realistically fall anywhere in that spread. For a family paying private university tuition, that's a significant gamble when public alternatives offer clearer track records in the same field.

The debt estimate comes from looking at similar private institutions nationally, which adds another layer of uncertainty. If your student is considering this program, get concrete answers from the school about actual graduate outcomes, job placement rates, and why they can't report sufficient data. A general studies degree can be valuable for its flexibility, but you need to know you're not overpaying for that flexibility compared to Colorado's public options.