Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Southeastern Oklahoma State University

For a regional liberal arts degree, Southeastern Oklahoma State delivers surprisingly competitive outcomes. Graduates earn $38,899 in their first year—outpacing both the Oklahoma median ($37,786) and the national median ($36,340) for this field. At 60th percentile statewide, this program sits comfortably in the middle of the pack, trailing OU and Cameron but ahead of most competitors. The debt load of $22,879 is notably lower than both state and national medians, creating a manageable 0.59 debt-to-earnings ratio that most graduates should be able to handle.

The challenge here is what happens after graduation: earnings essentially flatline rather than grow over the first four years. That's concerning for a degree that's meant to develop broadly transferable skills. Liberal arts graduates typically need to be strategic about their first job, as it sets the trajectory for future growth. The modest debt gives graduates flexibility to pursue graduate school or entry positions that might lead somewhere, but parents should understand this isn't a credential with built-in earning power.

For Oklahoma families, this represents a low-risk path to a bachelor's degree—you're not overpaying, and your child starts ahead of most peers in this field. But success after graduation will depend heavily on what they do with the degree, not just having it.