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

Similar liberal arts programs in Illinois suggest Dominican graduates can expect around $42,000 in first-year earnings—squarely at the state median but above the national average for this field. With an estimated $31,000 in debt, that translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74, which is manageable but not exceptional. Nearly half of Dominican's students receive Pell grants, meaning many families here are counting on this degree to deliver reliable economic mobility.

The challenge is context. The top-performing liberal arts programs in Illinois—like DePaul's $84,000 and Saint Xavier's $51,000—show that outcomes within this broad field vary dramatically, likely depending on internships, career services, and network strength. Dominican sits closer to the middle of the pack, alongside programs at Aurora and Northeastern Illinois. For a school with an 80% admission rate serving a substantial low-income population, this middle-tier positioning raises questions about whether the degree provides enough competitive advantage in Chicago's job market.

The honest answer: this is a field where the program matters less than what you do with it. If your child can leverage Dominican's smaller campus (and presumably more personalized attention) to build internships and professional connections, these estimates suggest a viable path. But they'll need to be strategic—general studies degrees don't sell themselves, and $31,000 in debt leaves little room for a slow start.