Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Le Moyne-Owen College

Liberal arts programs at access-focused institutions like Le Moyne-Owen face a fundamental challenge: serving students who need the most support with limited resources. With 71% of students receiving Pell grants and a 97% admission rate, this college fulfills a crucial mission in Memphis. However, based on comparable Tennessee programs, graduates typically earn around $37,400 in their first year while carrying roughly $29,000 in debt—a 0.77 ratio that suggests manageable but tight finances immediately after graduation.

The estimated earnings align almost exactly with the Tennessee median for liberal arts degrees, though they trail the state's strongest programs by $8,000 or more. Nationally, the picture is similar: peer programs produce median earnings of $36,340, meaning Le Moyne-Owen graduates likely land in familiar territory. The debt load is slightly higher than the national median of $27,000, but not dramatically so. For context, the top-performing liberal arts programs in Tennessee—at schools like Lee University and MTSU—report significantly higher earnings, suggesting that institutional resources and alumni networks matter considerably in this broad field.

The practical reality: a monthly federal loan payment around $320 on a $37,400 salary is workable but leaves little margin for error. Parents should understand they're looking at estimates drawn from similar programs rather than tracked outcomes from Le Moyne-Owen itself. If your child values the specific support systems and community at this HBCU, the financial picture doesn't rule it out—but exploring whether other Tennessee institutions might offer stronger career outcomes in their intended field would be prudent.