Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Johnson C Smith University

Johnson C Smith's liberal arts program serves a predominantly Pell-eligible student body (68%) with outcomes that land squarely at North Carolina's median for these degrees—$33,847 annually. However, graduates here carry considerably more debt than their state peers: $36,285 versus a state median of $28,307. That debt burden ranks in the 5th percentile nationally, meaning 95% of similar programs nationwide leave students with less debt. The 1.07 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe slightly more than their first-year salary, which makes the standard 10-year repayment plan challenging on a liberal arts income.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could shift significantly year to year, but the pattern is worth noting. While this program performs respectably compared to other North Carolina liberal arts degrees, it's nearly $8,000 behind NC State and $12,800 behind Belmont Abbey College. For families weighing options, the debt load here transforms what would otherwise be middle-of-the-pack earnings into a tighter financial picture. Students attracted to JCSU for its HBCU mission and Charlotte location should plan carefully around that debt—perhaps by maximizing grants, working part-time, or considering whether their specific career path might offset these numbers. This isn't an obviously poor investment, but the debt-to-earnings math requires more financial planning than at comparable North Carolina schools.