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

The numbers tell a concerning story, but the small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates—means these figures might not represent the typical experience. With that caveat in mind, Temple's liberal arts program shows graduates earning $35,205 their first year while carrying $34,372 in debt, creating a nearly 1:1 debt-to-earnings ratio that will make loan repayment a real squeeze.

What's notable is the disconnect between state and national performance. Temple ranks in the 60th percentile among Pennsylvania programs but only 44th nationally, suggesting Pennsylvania's liberal arts programs underperform the country overall. The debt burden is particularly unusual—sitting in just the 5th percentile nationally means 95% of similar programs leave students with more debt. That's actually the one bright spot here: Temple's relatively modest borrowing keeps a difficult earnings picture from becoming catastrophic.

Given that 30% of Temple students receive Pell grants and the 83% admission rate suggests accessibility is a priority, families should recognize that this outcome data—while limited—points to financial stress in those crucial early career years. For students committed to liberal arts at Temple, graduating with minimal additional debt beyond these medians becomes essential, as does having a concrete plan for translating a general studies degree into employment. The low debt is an advantage, but the earnings will still make standard loan payments challenging.