Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at North Carolina A & T State University

A liberal arts degree from NC A&T lands graduates squarely in the bottom quarter nationally, with first-year earnings of $30,397—nearly $6,000 below the national median for this program and $3,500 below North Carolina's state median. That's a meaningful gap when you're carrying $31,000 in debt, creating a nearly 1:1 debt-to-earnings ratio that makes those first years financially tight. Among North Carolina's 36 programs, this one ranks at the 40th percentile, meaning six out of ten liberal arts programs in the state deliver better outcomes.

The 24% earnings growth to $37,786 by year four is encouraging and helps close the gap somewhat, but even at that point, graduates still trail the typical first-year earnings from stronger in-state options like NC State ($41,661) or UNC Chapel Hill ($37,709). For a school serving 51% Pell-eligible students, these outcomes raise questions about return on investment—particularly when higher debt than the state average compounds the earnings disadvantage.

If your child is set on liberal arts at NC A&T for campus culture or specific opportunities, understand they'll likely face tighter finances early on than peers at comparable state schools. The data suggests exploring whether other NC public universities might offer better value for a general liberal arts path.