Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Franciscan University of Steubenville

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68—based on typical outcomes from comparable liberal arts programs in Ohio—suggests manageable borrowing for this field, though the absolute numbers tell a more sobering story. Similar programs across the state produce first-year earnings around $40,500, while graduates from this type of private institution in Ohio typically carry about $27,600 in debt. That's slightly below the national median debt for liberal arts degrees, but the earnings barely exceed the national benchmark of $36,300.

The challenge isn't necessarily Franciscan's specific program quality—the lack of reported data prevents that assessment—but rather the broader economics of liberal arts degrees. Even Ohio's top-performing programs in this field, like Xavier at $47,000, don't produce dramatically higher earnings. The selectivity here (72% admission rate, 1218 SAT average) and low Pell enrollment (21%) suggest a more traditional student body that may have family support to bridge early-career income gaps.

For families considering full pay at a private institution, these estimated figures warrant a clear-eyed conversation. If your student needs this specific faith-integrated environment and you can manage the debt load without sacrificing retirement or requiring them to handle it alone, the numbers work. But if cost is driving decisions or your child is undecided about their path, understanding that peer programs typically produce modest early earnings—roughly $3,400 monthly before taxes—helps set realistic expectations about post-graduation financial independence.