Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion

Indiana Wesleyan's liberal arts program starts strong but shows a troubling earnings trajectory that parents need to understand. First-year graduates earn $43,763—well above the national median of $36,340 and placing them in the 84th percentile nationally. However, by year four, earnings drop to $39,636, a 9% decline that runs counter to typical career progression. Within Indiana, this program lands in the 60th percentile, respectable but trailing schools like Notre Dame and University of Indianapolis.

The $27,000 median debt sits right at the national average, creating a manageable 0.62 debt-to-earnings ratio based on first-year income. That's reasonable by any standard. The real question is what's driving the earnings decline. Are graduates shifting to mission-driven work that pays less but offers other rewards? Are they pursuing graduate school? Or are initial job placements simply unsustainable? With a robust sample size of 100+ graduates, this pattern appears consistent rather than a statistical fluke.

For families comfortable with the university's Christian mission and willing to investigate why earnings dip after graduation, the relatively low debt makes this a manageable risk. But the earnings reversal deserves a direct conversation with career services about typical graduate paths and what causes that year-four drop. Starting strong only matters if you can maintain momentum.