Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Maranatha Baptist University

A $27,000 debt load paired with first-year earnings around $44,000 places this program squarely in the middle of Wisconsin's liberal arts landscape—based on what peer programs typically produce. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62 means graduates would owe roughly seven months' salary, which is manageable compared to many humanities programs nationally where debt often exceeds a full year's income.

The estimated earnings figure comes from seven similar Wisconsin programs, including UW-Eau Claire and Alverno College, which suggests this is a reasonable baseline for liberal arts degrees in the state. Notably, these projections sit well above the national median of $36,340 for this field, likely reflecting Wisconsin's stronger regional economy for college-educated workers. However, families should recognize that actual outcomes at Maranatha could vary—smaller religious institutions sometimes produce tighter alumni networks that boost career prospects, or conversely, may have fewer corporate recruiting connections than larger state schools.

The real question is whether your child plans to pursue graduate school or enter fields where a general liberal arts degree serves as a foundation rather than a credential. At under $30,000 in debt, there's reasonable flexibility to take lower-paying nonprofit or ministry positions initially, or to invest in further education without being crushed by undergraduate loans. Just understand you're working with estimated benchmarks here, not Maranatha-specific track records.