Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global

Indiana Wesleyan's general studies program lands graduates strong initial positions—$43,763 puts it in the 84th percentile nationally and second among Indiana liberal arts programs. But the trajectory tells a cautionary tale: median earnings drop to $39,636 by year four, a 9% decline that's unusual for bachelor's degree holders who typically see income growth in their mid-twenties.

The $27,000 debt load sits right at national and state medians, creating a manageable 0.62 debt-to-earnings ratio at graduation. Nearly half of students receive Pell grants, suggesting the program serves working adults seeking credential completion. The initial earnings advantage over Indiana's state median ($35,931) is real, though within the state it performs middle-of-the-pack at the 60th percentile—well behind Notre Dame but competitive with Indianapolis-area universities.

The earnings decline warrants attention. It may reflect the nature of general studies degrees, which lack specialized career pathways, or perhaps the challenges of this program's adult learner population navigating career transitions. For families, this means the strong starting salary shouldn't be the only consideration—students need a clear plan for how this credential advances specific career goals, not just serves as a degree checkbox.