Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Cottey College

Similar liberal arts programs in Missouri suggest first-year earnings around $37,600—right at the state median but trailing stronger programs like William Jewell ($50,700) and Saint Louis University ($48,800) by over $10,000 annually. With estimated debt of roughly $30,000, Cottey's debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.80 looks manageable on paper, though these figures come from comparable Missouri programs rather than tracked outcomes of Cottey graduates specifically.

The real question is whether a general liberal arts degree—at any school—provides enough career direction to justify the investment. Nearly half of Cottey students receive Pell grants, meaning many families are stretching to afford even this relatively moderate debt load. While the estimated numbers don't flash obvious warning signs, they also don't suggest any particular advantage over less expensive state options.

Before committing, understand that "general studies" degrees often require students to create their own professional narrative—something that becomes harder when earnings lag behind more focused programs. If your child has a clear graduate school plan or knows how to leverage a liberal arts foundation, the estimated debt burden appears serviceable. If they're hoping the degree itself will open doors, the peer program data suggests they should expect to work hard making those connections themselves, likely starting at a salary that makes $30,000 in debt feel heavier than the ratio implies.