Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Minot State University

Minot State's Liberal Arts program earns graduates $44,614 in their first year—impressive for a humanities degree, landing in the 87th percentile nationally and beating the national median by over $8,000. That's a meaningful advantage, though within North Dakota the results are more middle-of-the-pack at the 60th percentile. The debt load of $29,147 translates to a manageable 0.65 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates owe less than eight months of their first-year salary.

The caveat here matters: we're looking at fewer than 30 graduates, so these numbers could shift significantly with a larger sample. That said, the pattern is encouraging for families worried about liberal arts degrees leading to financial struggle. This program appears to position graduates reasonably well, likely benefiting from North Dakota's job market where even generalist degrees can find decent opportunities.

For families considering this path, the numbers suggest Minot State delivers stronger-than-expected outcomes for a broad humanities degree. The combination of below-median debt and above-national-average earnings creates breathing room most liberal arts programs don't offer. Just remember that individual results will vary widely in such a broad field—career services, internships, and what students do with the degree matter as much as the credential itself.