Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Northern Arizona University

Northern Arizona University's Liberal Arts program delivers surprisingly strong financial outcomes that significantly outperform national expectations. With first-year earnings of $43,752, graduates earn $7,400 more than the national median for similar programs, placing this program in the 84th percentile nationally. The manageable debt load of $21,600—well below both national and state medians—creates a healthy debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49, meaning graduates can reasonably expect to pay off their loans in about six months of gross salary.

However, the Arizona context reveals a more nuanced picture. While NAU's program excels nationally, it falls to the 40th percentile within Arizona, where the state median for liberal arts programs is notably higher at $49,147. This suggests Arizona's job market for liberal arts graduates is particularly robust, though NAU students still trail the top-performing ASU programs by about $5,400 annually.

The 11% earnings growth from year one to four shows steady career progression, and the robust sample size of 100+ graduates makes these figures reliable. For families prioritizing affordability with solid career prospects, this program offers excellent value—you're getting above-average national outcomes with below-average debt. Just know that within Arizona, there are higher-earning alternatives, though they may come with steeper price tags.