Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Trinity International University-Illinois

A debt load of $31,000 for a general liberal arts bachelor's degree deserves a hard look, especially when earnings estimates from similar Illinois programs suggest graduates start around $42,000. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74 isn't catastrophic—it's roughly three-quarters of a year's income—but it means your child would be shouldering monthly loan payments equivalent to what peers at less expensive state schools might avoid entirely.

The earnings figure itself sits right at the Illinois median for these programs, which is actually better than the national benchmark of $36,000. But that state median includes a huge range: top programs like DePaul's liberal arts graduates earn twice as much ($84,000), while Trinity's peer programs cluster in the $40,000s. Without Trinity-specific outcomes data, you're betting that their program performs at least at the state average, not below it.

For a school with a 93% admission rate serving a meaningful share of Pell-eligible students, that $31,000 debt estimate is concerning. If your child needs federal loans to attend, they're likely taking on more debt than the median Illinois graduate in this field ($29,000) for outcomes that may not justify the premium. Unless Trinity offers specific academic advantages or career connections that substantially improve those estimated earnings, this looks like a program where cheaper alternatives—particularly strong state universities—would deliver similar or better financial outcomes with less risk.