Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Concordia University Ann Arbor

Is a liberal arts degree worth taking on debt when the early earnings barely clear the bar? Based on similar programs across Michigan, graduates in this field typically earn around $37,900 in their first year—essentially the state median for these degrees. Against an estimated $30,800 in debt, that produces a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.81, which is manageable but hardly comfortable for someone just starting their career. The national picture offers little consolation: this field's median sits at $36,300, meaning Michigan programs generally perform slightly better than their counterparts elsewhere.

What's concerning is where Concordia Ann Arbor appears to sit within Michigan's landscape. The top liberal arts programs in the state—Spring Arbor, Siena Heights, and Baker College—report first-year earnings in the $42,000 to $47,000 range. If peer programs at similar institutions suggest earnings closer to $38,000, that's a $10,000 gap between the strongest programs and the middle of the pack, compounded by debt that's slightly above the state median.

For parents, the calculation is straightforward: you're likely investing around $31,000 in debt for earnings that won't dramatically exceed what most Michigan liberal arts graduates achieve. Unless your child has specific career plans that leverage this degree's flexibility effectively—graduate school, certain professional pathways—the debt load creates limited room for error in those crucial first years after graduation.