Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Concord University

Concord's liberal arts program charges less debt than most West Virginia competitors while producing middling results—a relative bright spot in a state where similar programs typically leave graduates owing nearly $29,000. At $24,326 in debt, graduates here borrow about $4,300 less than the state median, though they also earn slightly below it at $32,499 in their first year.

The earnings trajectory tells a sobering story about liberal arts degrees from regional universities. Four years out, graduates see only modest gains to $34,206—barely keeping pace with inflation. This puts them in the bottom third nationally for this credential, though they fare somewhat better among West Virginia programs (40th percentile). The gap between Concord and top state programs like West Virginia State ($41,319) shows what's possible, even within the constraints of the Mountain State economy.

The key advantage here is the relatively manageable debt load. With a 0.75 debt-to-earnings ratio, graduates can expect their first-year income to exceed what they borrowed—not an impressive financial return, but workable for someone pursuing this degree for non-financial reasons. For a family committed to a liberal arts education in southern West Virginia, Concord avoids the debt trap that makes similar programs elsewhere unsustainable. Just understand that career advancement will likely require additional credentials or a geographic move.