Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Governors State University

Governors State University's liberal arts program starts strong but loses ground quickly—graduates earn $42,107 in year one, then see earnings drop 10% to $37,766 by year four. That backward trajectory is unusual and concerning, especially given the $36,500 debt load. While the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.87 looks manageable initially, the declining earnings trend means that ratio actually worsens over time when graduates should be advancing in their careers.

The Illinois context reveals this program's limitations. Earning $42,107 places graduates at the state median, which sounds adequate until you realize they're carrying $7,000 more debt than the typical Illinois liberal arts graduate. That debt sits at just the 5th percentile nationally—meaning 95% of similar programs leave students with less debt. More troubling: while nearby Chicago State graduates earn just $3,600 more initially, their career trajectories likely differ. The earnings decline here suggests graduates may be stuck in entry-level positions or facing underemployment.

For an anxious parent, here's the reality: your child would likely graduate with above-average debt for a liberal arts degree and earnings that peak on day one. The program serves a majority Pell Grant population (52%), so access matters, but the backward earnings trajectory suggests graduates aren't converting their degrees into career advancement. If your child is set on liberal arts at a public Illinois university, compare the four-year outcome carefully—that year-four number is what really matters for loan repayment.