Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Quincy University

Similar liberal arts programs in Illinois suggest first-year earnings around $42,000, which would saddle graduates with debt nearly three-quarters of their starting salary. That $31,000 estimated debt burden is slightly above both state and national medians for this major, while the earnings align exactly with Illinois's typical outcome—positioning this program squarely in the middle of the pack.

The four-year earnings figure of $49,520 provides some reassurance that income grows beyond that initial year, but the context matters here. Top liberal arts programs in Illinois, like those at DePaul or Saint Xavier, launch graduates into substantially higher earning trajectories. The question for parents is whether Quincy's program—with limited graduate data to verify outcomes—justifies taking on above-average debt for what peer programs suggest will be average earnings.

Given the incomplete picture, this program requires additional scrutiny. Talk directly with Quincy's career services about actual job placement rates and typical employers for recent graduates. Ask for concrete data on where alumni land professionally. Without verified outcomes specific to this school, you're essentially betting that Quincy's program performs similarly to other Illinois liberal arts degrees—a gamble that makes more sense if the cost comes in below that $31,000 estimate.