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

Colorado Mesa's liberal arts program starts surprisingly strong at $42,136 in year one—beating both the Colorado median ($39,024) and landing in the 77th percentile nationally. That's competitive with Adams State and well ahead of CSU-Fort Collins despite Mesa's open-access mission. The debt load of $25,970 translates to a manageable 0.62 ratio, meaning graduates earn enough to handle their loans comfortably right out of the gate.

The complication: earnings actually slip to $40,844 by year four. This isn't catastrophic—graduates still out-earn the typical Colorado liberal arts major four years in—but it suggests the immediate post-graduation job market may be stronger than mid-career prospects for this program. Liberal arts degrees often require graduates to carve their own paths, and those early jobs don't always lead to quick advancement without additional credentials or strategic career pivots.

For families who value a broad education at a reasonable price point, this delivers solid initial outcomes without crushing debt. Just understand that the first job may represent the earnings ceiling unless your student plans to leverage this foundation toward graduate school, professional certifications, or fields where the degree serves as a prerequisite rather than direct career training. The math works, but the trajectory suggests you're buying optionality more than a clear career ladder.