Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Olivet Nazarene University

Estimated first-year earnings of $42,107 place this program right at Illinois's median for liberal arts degrees, though the $31,000 in projected debt—drawn from similar programs at Olivet Nazarene—creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74 that's manageable but not comfortable. With figures estimated from just three similar programs at this school and eleven statewide, there's inherent uncertainty here, but the baseline numbers suggest graduates would need roughly nine months of gross earnings to clear their debt load. That's workable compared to the national picture, where liberal arts degrees typically start at $36,340, but it's nowhere near the $84,000 that DePaul liberal arts graduates reportedly earn.

The real question is opportunity cost. Liberal arts programs at comparable Illinois schools show a $40,000 range in first-year earnings, and Olivet's estimated midpoint positioning means graduates would be starting well behind peers at top programs while carrying similar debt. A 67% admission rate and modest test scores suggest this isn't a selective cohort that might leverage alumni networks into higher-paying roles, and with 35% of students on Pell grants, many families here are price-sensitive.

If your child is set on this path at Olivet, push for merit aid to bring that debt estimate down—every $5,000 reduction meaningfully improves the payoff timeline. But recognize you're looking at estimated figures that could swing either direction, and the program sits in a crowded middle tier where outcomes depend heavily on individual hustle after graduation.