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

A bachelor's in Liberal Arts at Buffalo suggests first-year earnings around $35,800 and debt near $25,000—figures drawn from what similar New York programs typically produce, since this specific program's graduate sample is too small for the Department of Education to publish. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70 lands in reasonable territory, meaning graduates would owe roughly seven months' salary, a manageable starting point compared to many bachelor's programs.

What's harder to ignore is the earnings gap within New York itself. The top Liberal Arts programs in the state—Cornell, Union College, and several smaller institutions—report outcomes ranging from $45,000 to nearly $75,000 for first-year graduates. Buffalo's estimated $35,800 sits at the state median, which means half of comparable programs do better. For a SUNY flagship with a 1298 average SAT, that's not a red flag, but it does suggest this degree functions more as a launching pad than a high-earning credential on its own.

The practical challenge: Liberal Arts degrees depend heavily on what students do with them—internships, networking, graduate school plans. With outcomes varying so dramatically across New York institutions, your child's specific path matters more than the diploma itself. If they're treating this as preparation for law school or a specific career track, the estimated debt load won't derail those plans. If they're hoping the degree alone opens doors to $45,000+ jobs, peer programs suggest tempering those expectations.