Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Seattle Pacific University

What stands out about Seattle Pacific's liberal arts program is how tightly debt and earnings are balanced—but based on comparable Washington programs, that balance sits at a challenging level. The estimated $33,410 in debt nearly matches first-year earnings of $35,398, creating minimal breathing room for graduates entering the workforce. While this debt load is actually higher than Washington's state median of $22,881 for similar programs, the earnings align precisely with what other liberal arts graduates across the state typically see.

The broader picture shows this is simply a tough credential economically. Nationally, liberal arts bachelor's degrees produce median earnings of $36,340—barely different from what Washington programs deliver. What's more concerning is that other Washington schools like Whitworth and Seattle University's programs report earnings in the mid-$40,000s, suggesting there's meaningful variation in outcomes across the state that this program doesn't appear to capture.

For parents, the core question is whether a nearly 1:1 debt-to-earnings ratio works financially for your family. On $35,000 in first-year earnings, standard loan repayment would consume roughly 15% of take-home pay—manageable but tight. Since these figures are based on peer programs rather than SPU-specific outcomes, request placement data directly from the university to understand where their graduates actually land. The 91% admission rate suggests accessibility, but you'll want concrete evidence that this particular program delivers value beyond the state average before committing to above-average debt.