Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Colorado State University-Fort Collins graduates with Liberal Arts degrees start slower than you'd expect—$34,540 in year one puts them below both the state median ($39,024) and the national average ($36,340). That's in the 40th percentile among Colorado's liberal arts programs, trailing smaller schools like Colorado Mesa and Adams State. However, the program shows meaningful momentum: earnings climb 28% to $44,239 by year four, eventually surpassing both benchmarks. The $25,000 debt load is manageable relative to first-year earnings, though it's higher than 66% of comparable programs nationally.

The real question is whether that four-year wait for competitive earnings makes sense for your family. If your child needs immediate earning power after graduation—perhaps to start paying loans or support themselves—this program's slow start could create financial stress in those early years. The upside is that graduates who can weather those first years see solid income growth, and the debt burden won't overwhelm them even during the lean period.

For families comfortable with a longer-term investment horizon and who can provide some financial cushion in the immediate post-graduation years, the trajectory here is promising. But if your child needs their degree to translate to immediate financial independence, consider whether they might pair this major with a more marketable minor or internship experience, or explore Colorado's higher-performing liberal arts programs that deliver stronger year-one outcomes.