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

A bachelor's degree in liberal arts from comparable Illinois programs typically starts graduates around $42,000—right at the state median but well above the national benchmark of $36,300. The estimated $31,000 debt load translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74, which is manageable if not impressive. Similar programs in Illinois carry median debt closer to $29,000, so Greenville appears roughly aligned with peer schools, though the small sample size for both earnings and debt estimates means actual outcomes for this program could vary considerably.

The challenge here is less about the numbers themselves than what they represent: a general studies degree that doesn't lead to a defined career path. While the debt burden is reasonable enough to repay on typical liberal arts earnings, you're looking at first-year income that's roughly half what DePaul's liberal arts graduates earn and barely above what graduates from Chicago State achieve. For a school with a 95% acceptance rate and below-average test scores, there's limited evidence that Greenville adds significant value beyond what the degree itself provides.

If your child thrives in smaller college environments and has clear post-graduation plans—graduate school, a specific employer connection, or a field where the degree serves as a credential rather than career training—this debt level won't become crushing. But banking on a general studies degree alone to differentiate them in the job market is risky, particularly when the estimated outcomes suggest fairly ordinary returns.