Social Sciences at Ouachita Baptist University

A private Baptist university charging students $27,000 in debt for a social sciences degree that peers suggest will earn $36,279 in the first year creates a financial equation worth examining carefully. While these figures come from comparable programs nationally rather than Ouachita's own graduates, they indicate a debt load just above the national median for this field, paired with earnings right at the national benchmark. The 0.74 debt-to-earnings ratio sits in manageable territory—you'd be borrowing less than a year's salary—but the modest starting salary means loan payments will still claim a meaningful chunk of monthly income.

The real question is whether the smaller, faith-based environment at Ouachita justifies nearly matching the debt load of the national median when earnings track identically to what larger, potentially less expensive state schools produce. Social sciences degrees are notoriously broad—launching careers in everything from nonprofit work to business—so your child's specific career path and network connections matter enormously here. If Ouachita's tight-knit community and mission alignment create opportunities that translate to better job placement or graduate school admissions, the investment could work. But if this is mainly about getting a general liberal arts credential, you're paying private school prices for public school outcomes based on what peer programs suggest. Have frank conversations about career plans before signing these loan documents.