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

A $27,000 debt load for first-year earnings around $36,340 sounds manageable on paper—the 0.74 debt-to-earnings ratio sits in reasonable territory. But remember, these figures are estimates drawn from similar liberal arts programs nationally since Doane's graduate sample is too small for the Department of Education to publish actual outcomes. The real question is whether this particular program justifies borrowing at or above the national median when peer programs in Nebraska show considerable variation.

Nebraska's liberal arts landscape tells an instructive story. The University of Nebraska at Omaha reports actual earnings of nearly $41,000 for their graduates, while UN-Kearney comes in around $29,500. Doane's estimated $36,340 falls between these poles, but without program-specific data, you're essentially betting on the middle of a wide distribution. The estimated debt of $27,000 also exceeds Nebraska's typical $23,492 for these programs—not dramatically, but enough to matter when stretched over a decade of repayment.

For families considering Doane, the uncertainty compounds the risk. If your child gravitates toward this program for specific faculty relationships or campus culture, understand you're investing based on projected rather than demonstrated outcomes. The 90% admission rate and modest Pell population suggest Doane casts a wide net, which doesn't tell you much about graduate success. Unless there's a compelling reason this particular institution adds value beyond what state universities offer, the premium over Nebraska public options is hard to justify without actual performance data.