Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Florida International University

FIU's Liberal Arts program sits squarely in the middle of Florida's offerings—literally at the 40th percentile statewide—with first-year earnings of $34,418 that trail both the state median ($35,361) and national median ($36,340). While that's not disastrous, it means your graduate will likely earn less than peers who chose UCF ($48,391) or even USF ($45,230), despite similar debt loads. The $25,571 in typical debt matches the state median but feels heavier given those below-average earnings, yielding a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74.

The positive story here is the 20% earnings growth to $41,299 by year four, which at least pushes graduates closer to the national 75th percentile over time. FIU serves a population where 40% receive Pell grants, and this degree does provide credential value and income mobility—just not the standout returns seen at Florida's top-tier programs. The sample size of 100+ graduates makes these figures reliable, not flukes.

For an in-state student paying lower tuition, this could work as a foundation degree if paired with strategic internships or career planning. But if your child is comparing across Florida schools or considering out-of-state tuition, the numbers suggest they'd get more bang for their buck elsewhere. The earnings gap between FIU and other Florida options is real and persistent.