Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Emmanuel College

A liberal arts bachelor's degree that leaves graduates with nearly $27,000 in debt while earning around $39,000 their first year demands careful scrutiny. Based on comparable programs at similar Massachusetts institutions, Emmanuel's estimated debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68 sits in workable territory—graduates would dedicate roughly 68% of their first-year salary to debt if they paid it off immediately. That's not catastrophic, but it's not comfortable either, especially when liberal arts degrees often require further education for career advancement.

The estimated first-year earnings align closely with both Massachusetts and national medians for this major, suggesting Emmanuel performs neither better nor worse than typical. However, the comparison to other Boston-area schools reveals a stark reality: MIT liberal arts graduates earn $103,000, and even Regis College—another small private institution—reports $52,500. These aren't apples-to-apples comparisons (MIT draws different students entirely), but they highlight how much variation exists within this field and geography.

For families considering Emmanuel specifically, the key limitation is that these figures come from peer institutions, not Emmanuel's own graduates. The actual outcomes could be better or worse. What's clear is that a general liberal arts degree at this price point requires either strong networking opportunities, clear career direction, or plans for graduate school to justify the investment. Without concrete data showing Emmanuel's graduates outperform these state averages, assume typical outcomes and plan accordingly.