Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Stevens Institute of Technology

Stevens Institute is primarily an engineering powerhouse (average SAT of 1447), making the estimated $38,000 first-year earnings for this liberal arts degree somewhat surprising—in a good way, actually. Based on comparable programs in New Jersey, these figures land right at the state median for liberal arts degrees, which suggests this program isn't benefiting much from Stevens' technical reputation or industry connections. The estimated $26,000 in debt is manageable relative to those earnings, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68 that's healthier than many humanities programs produce.

The real question is opportunity cost. Liberal arts students at Stevens are surrounded by engineering and computer science majors heading into high-paying tech careers, yet their own outcomes mirror what you'd find at schools costing considerably less. Top liberal arts programs in New Jersey—Thomas Edison State and Rowan among them—report actual earnings in the $43,000-$49,000 range, well above what peer programs suggest for Stevens graduates in this field. Given that only 20% of Stevens students receive Pell grants, most families here are paying close to full freight at a selective technical institution.

If your student is passionate about humanities but drawn to Stevens' engineering culture, they should understand they're essentially paying STEM prices for liberal arts outcomes that appear average for the state. Unless Stevens' unique environment is worth that premium to them personally, there are clearer value propositions elsewhere in New Jersey for this degree path.