Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Hilbert College

A debt load near $25,000 against first-year earnings around $36,000 creates a manageable starting point, but this estimate—drawn from other liberal arts programs across New York—masks significant uncertainty about what Hilbert graduates specifically achieve. The 0.69 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests roughly eight months of gross income to cover loans, which falls within reasonable bounds. However, the gap between what similar programs produce statewide and what top performers deliver is stark: Cornell and Union College graduates in this field earn $10,000+ more in their first year, while Molloy's outcomes nearly double the state median.

The real concern isn't the debt level but the earnings ceiling. Liberal arts degrees at most New York schools cluster in the mid-$30,000s, and there's little evidence this program breaks that pattern. With a 98% admission rate and nearly half of students on Pell grants, Hilbert serves students who need education to pay off quickly. General studies programs rarely provide the specialized credentials that command higher starting salaries, meaning graduates will likely need years of career progression to reach comfortable income levels.

For families considering this investment, understand you're looking at peer-program estimates that could swing several thousand dollars either direction. The actual outcomes depend heavily on what specific career paths Hilbert's support systems help students access—information these suppressed figures can't reveal.