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

When graduates from similar liberal arts programs across Tennessee report earnings around $37,400 in their first year, that's essentially matching the national norm for this broad degree—but it's significantly trailing what Tennessee's strongest programs produce. The gap between Johnson University's peer-program estimate and what graduates from Lee University or Middle Tennessee State actually earn ($45,000+) suggests meaningful variation in outcomes even within the same field and state.

The estimated debt load of roughly $29,000 creates a manageable 0.77 debt-to-earnings ratio, slightly above the national median debt but not dramatically so. For context, this is the kind of loan burden that's typically serviceable on these salary levels, assuming stable employment. However, liberal arts degrees are notably versatile—outcomes depend heavily on what graduates do with them, from pursuing graduate school to entering fields ranging from nonprofits to business.

The challenge here is that you're working with estimates rather than Johnson's actual graduate outcomes, which means less certainty about whether this particular program's network, curriculum, or regional connections produce results above or below the Tennessee average. Given that comparable Tennessee programs span from $37,000 to $45,000+ in first-year earnings, parents should investigate what distinguishes the higher-performing programs and whether Johnson shares those characteristics—like strong career services, internship pipelines, or employer relationships in specific sectors.