Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at McKendree University

McKendree's liberal arts bachelor's costs an estimated $31,000 in debt—above the national median for this degree—while first-year earnings from comparable Illinois programs hover around $42,000. That 0.74 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't alarming, but it's worth noting that general studies degrees produce some of the widest outcome variations in higher education. The top liberal arts programs in Illinois—like DePaul at $84,000 or Saint Xavier at $51,000—show how dramatically career trajectories can differ based on what students do with these foundational degrees.

The challenge with a general studies degree is that the credential itself rarely commands premium pay. Based on peer programs across Illinois, graduates typically start around the state median of $42,000, which sits just above the national benchmark. But without knowing McKendree's specific outcomes—the data here reflects medians from similar Illinois programs, not this school's actual graduates—parents should recognize they're betting on their student's ability to translate a broad education into marketable skills through internships, double majors, or graduate school.

For families financing most of this $31,000 through loans, the math works if your student has clear career plans or graduate school ambitions where liberal arts provides necessary preparation. If they're still exploring, that debt load deserves careful consideration, especially when some Illinois programs produce notably stronger early outcomes.