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

Henderson State's liberal arts program carries meaningful risks that deserve careful consideration. With only 32 graduates in the data sample, the $32,875 starting salary sits below both national and Arkansas medians for this degree, putting it in the 40th percentile statewide—meaning six in ten Arkansas liberal arts programs produce better initial outcomes. That $25,500 debt load translates to a 0.78 debt-to-earnings ratio, requiring roughly nine months of gross income to repay, which is manageable but leaves little cushion given the modest starting point.

The bigger concern is the trajectory: earnings inch up just 4% over four years to $34,059, suggesting limited career momentum. Compare this to the University of Arkansas at Monticello's liberal arts graduates, who start at $41,530—a $9,000 advantage that compounds over time. For a family paying out-of-state tuition or taking on significant private loans, these numbers become harder to justify.

If your child is Arkansas-based, paying in-state rates, and has clear post-graduation plans that leverage this degree (graduate school, specific public service careers), Henderson could work. But the small sample size means one year's cohort could look very different from the next. This program doesn't open obvious doors on its own, so it requires a student with strong direction and backup plans.