Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Loras College

Based on comparable liberal arts programs in Iowa, graduates from this path typically earn around $40,400 in their first year—right at the state median and solidly above the national average of $36,340. The estimated $27,000 in debt is on par with both Iowa and national benchmarks, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67 that sits in reasonable territory for a liberal arts degree.

What's challenging here is the lack of program-specific data, which means you're making this decision without knowing how Loras's particular outcomes compare to nearby options. Simpson and Luther, which do report data, show graduates earning $42,000-$43,000—potentially $2,000-$3,000 more annually than the Iowa median that's been used as a proxy here. That difference compounds over time. The high admission rate and relatively low Pell enrollment at Loras suggest a private college experience, but without actual outcomes data, it's harder to assess whether you're getting distinctive value or simply paying private tuition for state-average results.

If your student is drawn to Loras specifically—for community, faculty connections, or fit—the estimated numbers don't raise red flags. But given the uncertainty and the availability of similar programs nearby with documented track records, it's worth having direct conversations with Loras about where their graduates actually land and how they support career outcomes in this broadly defined field.