Military Systems and Maintenance Technology at Liberty University

Liberty University's Military Systems and Maintenance Technology program produces graduates who earn $66,126 just one year out—roughly $6,600 above the national median for this field and at the 95th percentile nationally. Perhaps more impressive: graduates leave with just $19,407 in debt, yielding a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29. That's less than four months of first-year income, well below the threshold where debt becomes burdensome.

This is a rare program—only three bachelor's degrees in this field exist nationwide—making it hard to draw broad comparisons. But the numbers speak clearly: graduates are earning above-average salaries while carrying below-average debt. The 60th percentile ranking among Virginia programs is somewhat misleading since Liberty is currently the only institution in the state offering this degree, suggesting the program has carved out a valuable niche in workforce preparation for military technology careers.

With a 99% admission rate and nearly 40% of students receiving Pell grants, Liberty provides accessible pathways into a specialized technical field. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) means outcomes are reasonably stable, not based on a handful of outliers. For families concerned about student debt, this program offers an unusually clear value proposition: manageable borrowing leading to solid immediate earnings in a field with limited bachelor's-level competition.