Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Dallas Baptist University

The four-year earnings figure of $46,286 tells the more complete story here—that's when Dallas Baptist's liberal arts graduates see meaningful income growth beyond the estimated $38,829 starting point typical of Texas programs in this field. This jump suggests graduates take time to translate a broad liberal arts education into career traction, which isn't uncommon for this major. However, that trajectory starts from an estimated debt load of $27,359, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70 that's workable but not generous for someone still figuring out their professional path.

The challenge is that both the debt and initial earnings figures are estimates drawn from peer institutions, so there's real uncertainty about what Dallas Baptist graduates specifically experience. The four-year number is actual data for this program, though, and it falls short of comparable schools like UT Austin ($45,243) and University of the Incarnate Word ($47,241)—programs that produce stronger mid-career outcomes. Meanwhile, the estimated debt sits right at the state median ($26,875) and national benchmark ($27,000), suggesting Dallas Baptist likely mirrors typical borrowing patterns for private universities in Texas.

For parents considering this investment, the key question is whether the value Dallas Baptist adds—potentially through smaller classes, faith integration, or specific career services—justifies starting with average debt while waiting several years for earnings to gain momentum. Without concrete data on this program's specific graduates, you're banking on the school delivering outcomes at least as strong as its state peers, which the four-year earnings suggest it may not quite achieve.