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

A bachelor's degree with an estimated $28,926 in debt and first-year earnings around $37,900 puts Northern Michigan roughly in line with state peers—but that's the problem. Liberal arts bachelor's degrees in Michigan cluster in the mid-to-high $30,000s for early earnings, and while that's slightly above the national median for these programs, it's not enough to justify nearly $29,000 in borrowing for many families. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76 means three-quarters of that first year's salary would theoretically go toward paying off student loans—a tight squeeze even before living expenses.

The bigger concern is the ceiling. Similar programs across Michigan show first-year earnings topping out around $47,000 at the high end, suggesting limited initial wage growth even at better-performing schools. With 70% of applicants admitted and over a quarter of students on Pell grants, Northern Michigan serves many students for whom $29,000 in debt represents serious financial risk. These estimates come from peer programs statewide since this specific program's graduate cohort was too small to report, but the pattern is consistent: general liberal arts degrees typically deliver modest early returns.

Unless your child has clear postgraduate plans—teaching certification, graduate school with funding, or family connections in a specific field—this program presents a shaky value proposition. The debt isn't catastrophic, but paired with these earnings projections, there's little financial cushion if plans change.