Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Kenyon College

A selective liberal arts college charging $27,625 in estimated debt for a general studies degree that peers suggest returns $40,556 in first-year earnings—this looks reasonable on paper, but Kenyon's highly selective profile (31% admission, 1440 SAT average) raises questions about opportunity cost. Similar programs at Ohio State and Xavier, drawing from broader student populations, produce first-year earnings in the $43,000-$47,000 range, suggesting that what you're really paying for here is the residential liberal arts experience rather than superior career outcomes in the first year.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68 sits below typical warning thresholds, and aligns with the national median debt for this degree type. However, with only 10% of students receiving Pell grants, Kenyon primarily serves affluent families who can afford to prioritize intellectual exploration over immediate earning power. General studies degrees are designed for breadth rather than vocational preparation, which means graduates often need additional credentials or time to find their professional footing—something that works better when family resources provide a cushion.

If your child is targeting graduate school, consulting, or creative fields where Kenyon's alumni network and brand matter, this could be worthwhile. But if the goal is financial independence right after graduation, programs at Ohio's public universities appear to deliver comparable or better early earnings at potentially lower cost, without requiring the academic credentials Kenyon demands for admission.