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

With fewer than 30 graduates in the sample, these numbers need careful interpretation—but they tell a story worth considering. Lander's liberal arts program starts graduates at $25,204, landing in just the 5th percentile nationally and below even South Carolina's middling $29,506 median. That first-year figure is roughly $11,000 below what liberal arts graduates typically earn nationwide, though the 28% earnings growth to year four suggests the trajectory improves somewhat over time.

The middle-of-the-pack debt load ($27,125) becomes problematic given those low starting earnings—graduates owe more than they'll earn in their first year. Within South Carolina, this program sits at the 40th percentile, meaning most comparable in-state options deliver better outcomes. USC-Upstate and USC-Columbia graduates both start around $33,000-$36,000, offering substantially more financial runway with similar debt burdens.

For a family considering this program, the small sample size means one cohort's outcomes might not predict the next, but the available data suggests exploring other South Carolina liberal arts programs first. If your child has strong reasons to attend Lander specifically—campus fit, financial aid package, proximity to home—the eventual $32,000 earnings mark is livable, but the initial years will likely be financially tight compared to alternatives within the state.