Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at East Texas Baptist University

A bachelor's in liberal arts from a private Texas Baptist university would typically run around $27,000 in debt—squarely in line with what similar schools charge. That's the easy part. The harder question is whether first-year earnings of roughly $39,000 (based on comparable Texas programs) justify that investment.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70 suggests manageable repayment, and these figures align closely with state and national benchmarks for liberal arts degrees. But it's worth noting that other Texas programs show a wide range: some graduates at peer institutions earn $45,000 to $53,000 in their first year, while others cluster closer to this estimate. Without program-specific outcomes from ETBU, you're banking on the assumption that their graduates' trajectories mirror the typical Texas liberal arts experience—not necessarily the top-performing programs in the state.

The real risk isn't the debt level itself, but whether a general liberal arts degree provides sufficient career direction. If your child has a clear path—law school, graduate study, or a specific career where this credential opens doors—the numbers work. If they're still figuring things out, that $27,000 becomes harder to justify when the first paycheck barely covers loan payments, rent, and living expenses. Press the school for career placement data and alumni outcomes specific to their program before committing.