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

Friends University graduates with liberal arts degrees are earning slightly above Kansas's median for the program—$41,734 versus $41,219 statewide—while carrying notably higher debt at $31,500. That puts this program around the 60th percentile within Kansas, trailing public options like Fort Hays State and the University of Kansas by about $1,000 annually. However, the debt load here ranks in the 14th percentile nationally, meaning graduates are borrowing less than 86% of similar programs nationwide—an important advantage when first-year earnings hover in the low $40,000s.

The 0.75 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable but not exceptional for a liberal arts degree. These graduates are starting with debt equal to about nine months of salary, which is workable but leaves little cushion. The caveat here matters: with under 30 graduates in this cohort, these numbers could shift significantly with a larger sample. A few high or low earners can swing the median considerably in small programs.

For Kansas families considering in-state tuition benefits, this program delivers comparable outcomes to state universities without dramatically higher debt. But if your student is considering multiple Kansas schools, the public options offer similar or slightly better earnings with less borrowing. Friends works if there are specific factors—smaller classes, location preference—that justify the cost, but the numbers alone don't make a compelling case over Fort Hays or KU.