Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Miami University-Oxford

Miami's Liberal Arts program produces graduates earning roughly $41,000 right out of the gate—about $4,200 above the national median for these majors and solidly in the 70th percentile nationally. That's genuinely impressive for a broad-based humanities degree. The $31,000 debt load, while not trivial, translates to a manageable 0.76 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates owe less than a year's salary. Among Ohio schools offering this program, Miami sits right at the state median, though powerhouse liberal arts programs at Xavier and Antioch pull ahead by $5,000-6,000.

The concerning element here is what happens after that strong start: earnings barely budge over the next three years, growing just 3% to $41,606. While Miami's accessible admission rate (82%) and solid academics (SAT 1313) suggest a good educational foundation, this degree doesn't appear to unlock the kind of career progression you'd hope for. For context, many bachelor's programs see 15-25% earnings growth in those crucial early career years.

For families comfortable with a $31,000 investment and realistic about liberal arts career trajectories, this represents reasonable value—you're getting above-average outcomes for the field without crushing debt. Just understand you're primarily paying for that solid first job placement, not a steep earnings curve afterward.