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

Illinois State's Liberal Arts program leaves graduates earning $31,745 in their first year—about $10,000 below the Illinois median for this degree and in the bottom quarter both statewide and nationally. While the $23,621 debt load is lower than typical, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74 means graduates carry nearly nine months of their first-year salary in loans. That's a tough starting position, even with relatively accessible entry into this state university.

The 22% earnings growth to $38,684 by year four helps, but doesn't close the gap with other Illinois programs. Compare this to Chicago State ($45,762) or even the state median ($42,107)—Illinois State graduates are falling $4,000-$7,000 short annually, which compounds significantly over a career. The large sample size (100+ graduates) makes these patterns reliable rather than fluky.

For an 89% admission rate school, these outcomes suggest students might be better served by either choosing a more focused major at Illinois State or considering comparable programs at other Illinois publics that deliver stronger earnings. This program works if your family is comfortable with several years of modest earnings while your child builds toward other goals, but it's not a financial advantage compared to similar options across the state.