Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Coppin State University

Coppin State's Liberal Arts program comes with $41,868 in median debt—substantially higher than both the state median of $28,000 and the national median of $27,000 for this degree. That debt load matters more because first-year earnings, estimated from similar Maryland programs at $36,337, sit right at the national median. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.15 means graduates are borrowing more than their first full year of income, though reported earnings do climb to $43,786 by year four.

The comparison to other Maryland programs tells an important story. Notre Dame graduates earn an estimated $48,819 in their first year, while Morgan State and Salisbury both produce stronger early outcomes than the state median. Coppin's higher debt combined with typical earnings creates a tougher financial start than its in-state peers offer. With 53% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are already operating on tight budgets where an extra $14,000 in debt compounds existing financial pressure.

The four-year earnings jump suggests the degree does gain value with time, but that first year or two could be financially strained. Parents should understand that while this program serves its mission, the debt load stands out negatively compared to similar options across Maryland. If your child is set on Coppin, aggressive scholarship pursuit and minimizing borrowing beyond federal loans becomes essential to make the numbers work.