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

Salisbury's liberal arts program starts modestly but shows genuine momentum, with graduates earning $38,478 initially and jumping to nearly $50,000 by year four—a 29% increase that outpaces typical liberal arts trajectories. Among Maryland's 14 schools offering this degree, Salisbury lands at exactly the 60th percentile, performing better than state flagship programs like Frostburg State while keeping debt $3,000 below the state median.

The $25,000 debt load is reasonable for the field, though it still represents about eight months of first-year salary. What matters more is the earnings growth: by year four, graduates are earning roughly what Notre Dame graduates make initially, despite paying significantly less in tuition at a public university. This suggests Salisbury graduates are finding employers who value their skills and promote accordingly.

For Maryland families considering an in-state liberal arts degree, this represents a solid middle-of-the-pack option. Your child won't match the immediate earning power of Notre Dame graduates, but they'll carry lighter debt and show comparable upward mobility. The 89% admission rate means access is relatively straightforward, and the moderate sample size confirms enough graduates follow this path to make the data reliable. It's not a fast track to high earnings, but it's a financially defensible choice for students who need flexibility to explore career options after graduation.