Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Eastern Nazarene College

A $29,000 debt load for a degree that comparable Massachusetts liberal arts programs suggest will earn around $39,000 in the first year puts Eastern Nazarene graduates in a manageable position—the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74 means you'd owe roughly three-quarters of your annual salary, which falls below the concerning 1.0 threshold. The debt itself sits at the 33rd percentile nationally, meaning about two-thirds of similar programs leave students with more debt. For context, that $39,000 earning estimate aligns almost exactly with the state median for liberal arts graduates, though it trails well behind specialized liberal arts programs at schools like Bentley ($72,000) or even Worcester State ($44,000).

The challenge here is that these figures come from peer programs across Massachusetts, not Eastern Nazarene's actual graduate outcomes—the school's cohort was too small for the Department of Education to publish reliable data. That uncertainty matters when you're investing nearly $30,000 in debt. Liberal arts degrees are notoriously variable in outcomes because they lead to such diverse career paths, and without knowing where Eastern Nazarene's specific graduates land, you're working from educated guesses rather than proof.

If your child is set on Eastern Nazarene for reasons beyond the numbers—strong faculty relationships, mission fit, or specific opportunities—the estimated debt burden isn't catastrophic. But press the school hard for employment outcomes, typical job titles, and graduate school acceptance rates before committing. You need more certainty about where this particular degree actually leads.