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

A liberal arts degree from Shepherd University starts slow but builds momentum—graduates earn $33,587 initially but see that climb to $46,744 by year four, a 39% jump that outpaces typical wage growth. That trajectory matters because the starting salary sits below both national and state medians for this program, landing in the 35th percentile nationally and 40th percentile within West Virginia. The debt burden of $29,500 is actually slightly higher than state and national norms, which means the first year or two require some financial patience.

What makes this tricky is that even the four-year earnings figure still trails stronger performers in the state—American Public University System's liberal arts graduates earn $62,059, and West Virginia State graduates hit $41,319. Shepherd's program doesn't break into the top tier of West Virginia options. The 0.88 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't alarming, but it's not comfortable either when you're starting at $33,587.

If your child is set on liberal arts at a public West Virginia school, Shepherd offers reasonable debt and genuine earnings growth. But understand they'll likely need to supplement this degree with internships, skills development, or graduate education to reach competitive salaries. The open admissions and accessible price point make sense for students who need that foundation—just ensure they have a plan for what comes next.