Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Southwestern Adventist University

Similar liberal arts programs at private Texas colleges suggest first-year earnings around $38,800 against $27,400 in debt—a 0.70 ratio that's manageable but below what top programs deliver. The University of St. Thomas graduates in this field earn $53,000, while UT Austin hits $45,000, showing that program choice matters considerably even within the same state and major.

The challenge here is twofold. First, with 39% of students receiving Pell grants, many families at Southwestern Adventist need strong employment outcomes to justify the investment, and peer programs suggest earnings that lag competitors by $7,000 to $14,000 annually. Second, the lack of published data from this specific program means you're betting on whether Southwestern's outcomes mirror other small Texas private colleges or fall short. A $10,000 earnings difference compounds dramatically over a career, yet that's the range of uncertainty you're working with.

If your child is considering Southwestern for reasons beyond earnings—religious alignment, campus community, specific faculty—the estimated debt burden isn't catastrophic. But if this is primarily a credential decision, ask the admissions office directly about graduate outcomes and job placement. You're entitled to know whether their graduates actually match the state averages used here, or whether you should expect something different from this particular program.