Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Tennessee State University

Tennessee State's Liberal Arts program shows stronger earnings potential than typical general studies degrees, with graduates earning above both national and state medians. That 60th percentile ranking in Tennessee means this program outperforms three-fifths of similar programs statewide, and the jump from $37,716 to $51,110 over four years suggests solid career trajectory—36% earnings growth is notably healthy for a liberal arts degree.

The debt picture is more complicated. At $38,562, graduates carry about $10,000 more than the typical Tennessee liberal arts student, placing this in just the 5th percentile nationally for debt levels. However, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.02 means a year's salary essentially covers the total borrowed—manageable if that upward earnings trend continues. Given that over half of students receive Pell grants, many are likely using loans to bridge a significant financial gap.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift substantially year to year, so they're better viewed as directional rather than definitive. If your child can minimize borrowing through scholarships or work, this program delivers competitive outcomes for a liberal arts degree. But at full debt load, they'll need to be strategic about leveraging that degree into fields where the strong earnings growth continues past year four.