Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Purdue University Northwest

At just over $33,000 in first-year earnings, Purdue Northwest's Liberal Arts degree falls short of both state and national benchmarks—and more concerning, those earnings actually slip slightly by year four rather than grow. Among Indiana's 39 programs in this field, this lands below the middle of the pack, with graduates earning about $3,000 less than the typical in-state student. The small sample size here means these numbers could shift with more data, but the debt load of $29,517 is right at the threshold where Liberal Arts graduates typically start feeling the squeeze.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.89 isn't catastrophic—graduates aren't drowning in payments—but it leaves little room for financial breathing in those crucial early career years when many Liberal Arts majors are still finding their footing professionally. Compare this to Notre Dame's Liberal Arts grads who earn $45,000+, and you see what stronger alumni networks and brand recognition can deliver in this degree category.

For families considering this program, the key question is whether Purdue Northwest's lower tuition makes up for the earnings gap. If your student is paying close to full price, the math gets harder to justify when Indiana University-Indianapolis offers a similar degree with 25% higher earnings potential. The small graduate count suggests this isn't a flagship program at the campus, which may explain the modest outcomes.