Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Eastern Connecticut State University

Eastern Connecticut State delivers above-average national outcomes for a liberal arts degree—ranking in the 76th percentile nationwide—but falls short of Connecticut's typically strong numbers for this field. The state's median sits at $44,240, while Eastern's graduates earn $41,870 in their first year, placing them in just the 40th percentile among Connecticut schools. That's a notable gap in a state where liberal arts graduates at UConn and several other institutions consistently hit the mid-$40,000s. The debt load at $25,373 is reasonable, though slightly above the state average, resulting in a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61.

The modest 5% earnings growth over four years suggests these graduates find stable entry-level positions but may face limited upward mobility early on. This isn't necessarily alarming for liberal arts majors, who often need additional time or credentials to reach higher salary bands, but it does mean your child shouldn't expect rapid income acceleration right out of the gate.

For families prioritizing in-state tuition, Eastern offers a financially sensible path—you're not taking on crushing debt, and the outcomes beat most schools nationally. However, if your child can gain admission to UConn or compete for merit aid elsewhere in Connecticut, they'd likely see better earnings without significantly more debt. Eastern works as a solid safety option, but not the strongest value proposition within the state.