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

In Kansas, liberal arts bachelor's programs cluster tightly around $41,000 in first-year earnings, and Newman's estimated outcomes fall right in that range. The estimated $29,000 debt load is slightly above both the state and national medians for this major, though the 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio remains manageable by most standards—you're looking at debt roughly equivalent to seven months of gross income rather than a full year's salary.

What's worth noting is how little variation exists among Kansas schools in this field. The top program (Fort Hays State) shows only about $1,600 more in earnings than Newman's estimated figure, suggesting that for liberal arts degrees specifically, the institutional name matters less than what students do with the credential. The estimated earnings also outpace the national median by nearly $5,000, which may reflect Kansas's relatively low cost of living and stable job market in education, nonprofits, and administrative roles where liberal arts grads often land.

The challenge here is less about the numbers and more about trajectory. Liberal arts degrees are designed as foundations rather than direct career pathways, so first-year earnings don't tell the whole story. If your child has a clear plan for how they'll leverage the degree—graduate school, specific career fields where the credential opens doors—the estimated debt burden won't be crushing. Without that plan, $29,000 to reach the state median salary represents a significant bet on figuring things out later.