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

Idaho State's liberal arts program sits in an interesting middle ground: it ranks solidly above average within Idaho (60th percentile) despite landing in just the 27th percentile nationally. This tells you something important about Idaho's education market—state alternatives are limited, with only 7 schools offering this degree. However, Lewis-Clark State College graduates earn 23% more just one year out, so better options exist even in-state.

The debt picture is where this program shows real strain. At $37,323, students here carry roughly 40% more debt than both the national and Idaho medians for this major—landing in the worst 5% nationally for debt burden. That 1.16 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe more than they'll earn in their first year, a threshold most financial advisors suggest avoiding. While earnings do grow 10% over four years to $35,224, that's still below what typical liberal arts graduates earn nationally right after graduation.

For Idaho families committed to staying in-state, this program delivers middle-of-the-pack outcomes, but the debt load undermines its value. If Lewis-Clark State is geographically feasible, their graduates' stronger earnings with presumably comparable costs make them worth serious consideration. Out-of-state students should look elsewhere—you're paying significantly more in debt for below-average returns.