Apparel and Textiles at Liberty University

Liberty's apparel and textiles program lands graduates in a challenging position: earning $31,796 in their first year—about $5,000 below the national median for this degree. The $22,500 in typical debt creates a manageable but tight financial picture, with graduates owing roughly 71% of their first-year salary. While earnings do grow to nearly $36,000 by year four, that's still below what graduates from stronger programs earn right out of school.

The state context offers little guidance here since Liberty is Virginia's only institution reporting data for this program. Nationally, this program ranks in just the 26th percentile for earnings, meaning three-quarters of similar programs produce better-earning graduates. For a field that already skews toward lower compensation, landing in the bottom quarter adds another layer of difficulty.

This program makes most sense for students committed to fashion careers who have strong financial support or can reduce costs through scholarships. The debt level isn't catastrophic, but the starting salary means graduates will likely feel the monthly payment pinch. Students purely focused on earnings potential should understand they're entering one of the lower-paying professional fields, and this particular program won't position them at the top of it.