Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Rutgers University-Camden

Rutgers-Camden's liberal arts program sits squarely in the middle of the pack—not a standout, but not a disaster either. Graduates earn $35,768 in their first year, which falls below both the state median ($38,032) and lands at just the 40th percentile among New Jersey liberal arts programs. That's notably behind in-state alternatives like Rowan ($43,486) and Stockton ($42,209), schools your child might also be considering.

The debt picture, however, deserves attention: at $23,000, graduates here borrow about $3,000 less than the state median and substantially less than the national median. That lower debt load partially offsets the weaker earnings, resulting in a manageable 0.64 debt-to-earnings ratio. Earnings do grow to $40,401 by year four—a 13% increase that's respectable but won't dramatically change the financial equation.

For parents weighing this program, the calculation is straightforward: your child will pay less to attend but earn less after graduation compared to other New Jersey public universities. If the goal is maximizing early-career earnings, several in-state alternatives deliver $5,000-8,000 more annually. But if Camden's location works better or your child has a solid post-graduation plan (graduate school, specific industry connections), the lower debt burden makes this a reasonable choice—just not the strongest value proposition among New Jersey's liberal arts options.