Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Roger Williams University

In Rhode Island, liberal arts programs typically start graduates around $37,000 in first-year earnings—right at the state median—paired with estimated debt of $27,000. That 0.72 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests manageable repayment, though it's worth noting these figures come from peer programs rather than Roger Williams' actual graduate outcomes, which the Department of Education couldn't publish due to small sample sizes.

The estimated debt load here aligns precisely with the national median for this degree type, while the earnings estimate matches what similar Rhode Island programs report. For context, liberal arts graduates nationwide typically earn $36,340 in their first year, so the Rhode Island market appears neither particularly generous nor stingy. The $27,000 debt estimate would translate to roughly $280 monthly in standard loan payments—tight but feasible on $37,000 annual income, assuming other financial obligations don't pile up.

The practical challenge is that liberal arts degrees are notoriously diverse in outcomes depending on what graduates do with them. Some leverage the degree into communications, education, or graduate programs; others struggle to find career footing. With Roger Williams' 88% admission rate and relatively accessible price point for a private institution, this looks like a middle-ground option—unlikely to dramatically outperform or underperform state peers. If your student has a clear post-graduation plan that builds on this foundation, the estimated debt burden shouldn't be prohibitive. Without that plan, you're banking on comparable programs' outcomes applying here.