Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus

Indiana University of Pennsylvania delivers below-average outcomes for this general studies degree, even when compared to Pennsylvania's already-modest benchmarks for the program. At $33,174 in first-year earnings, graduates earn about $1,000 less than the state median and $3,200 below the national median. The 40th percentile ranking among PA programs means six out of ten similar programs in the state produce better outcomes—including public options like Temple, which yields $2,000 more in starting earnings.

The debt load tells a different story: at $31,000, it's higher than both state and national medians, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio near 1:1. While the moderate sample size means these figures could shift with more data, the pattern suggests graduates face roughly one year's pre-tax salary in debt for a credential that doesn't open particularly high-paying doors. Compare this to Drexel's liberal arts program, where graduates earn nearly double despite likely carrying similar or higher debt.

For anxious parents, the math here is straightforward but not disastrous. The debt is manageable—it won't sink your child financially. But with dozens of alternatives in Pennsylvania alone offering better starting salaries, this program requires a clear non-financial rationale: specific faculty, campus culture, or personal circumstances that justify accepting below-market career outcomes. If you're choosing purely on ROI, look elsewhere in the state system.