Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Lewis & Clark College

A bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts from Lewis & Clark comes with an estimated $27,000 in debt—right at the national median for this credential—but peer programs in Oregon suggest first-year earnings around $38,000. That puts graduates slightly ahead of the national typical outcome for this major ($36,340), though the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71 means your child would owe about 70% of their first year's salary. That's manageable compared to many programs, but it's worth remembering these figures come from comparable Oregon programs, not Lewis & Clark's own graduates.

The reality check: liberal arts degrees trade specialized career preparation for intellectual breadth, which means early earnings tend to lag behind more vocational majors. Oregon State's liberal arts graduates also start around $38,000, so the trajectory appears consistent across state institutions. However, Portland State's reported figure of $23,000 shows significant variation exists—location, networking, and individual career choices matter enormously with a generalist degree like this.

For a family weighing this investment, the question becomes whether Lewis & Clark's smaller classes and Portland location justify similar debt to larger state schools when outcomes may be comparable. The estimated figures suggest this isn't a disaster scenario—debt is moderate and earnings track with state peers—but liberal arts graduates typically need strong internships, career planning, or graduate school to see their earnings accelerate beyond these starting points.