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

Excelsior University's Liberal Arts program delivers exceptional value that defies typical expectations for this field. With graduates earning $52,429 in their first year—ranking in the 95th percentile nationally and 80th percentile in New York—this program significantly outperforms both the national median ($36,340) and New York state median ($35,817) for similar degrees. The $11,875 median debt load is remarkably low, sitting in the 95th percentile nationally (meaning 95% of similar programs have higher debt), creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.23.

The financial picture here is genuinely impressive. While liberal arts degrees often carry concerns about earning potential, Excelsior's graduates are earning nearly 50% more than the national average for their field. The low debt burden means graduates have significant financial flexibility after graduation—a stark contrast to the national median debt of $27,000 for this program type. Even compared to top New York programs, the value proposition holds strong when you factor in the minimal debt.

The one limitation is modest earnings growth (just 2% from year one to year four), but starting from such a strong foundation, this is less concerning. For families worried about liberal arts ROI, this program offers a rare combination: strong immediate earning power with minimal debt burden, making it an unexpectedly solid financial investment.