Insurance at University of Central Arkansas

The $22,400 in estimated debt for this bachelor's degree comes from looking at what other students at University of Central Arkansas typically borrow—not what insurance graduates specifically owe. That matters because the actual debt load could be higher or lower, but the general magnitude is what you'd expect from a four-year degree at a regional public university. First-year earnings of $46,000 translate to a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in about six months of gross income.

Here's the complication: this program lands in just the 5th percentile nationally for insurance bachelor's degrees. The typical insurance graduate nationwide earns $56,000—about $10,000 more than what this program produces. Being the only insurance program in Arkansas makes in-state comparison impossible, but that $10,000 gap is significant when you're entering a field where technical expertise and industry connections drive starting salaries. Insurance is a surprisingly lucrative field at strong programs, with top programs nationally producing first-year earnings over $63,000.

For a family considering this investment, the central question is whether UCA's specific advantages—in-state tuition, proximity to home, or particular career services connections—outweigh the apparent earnings disadvantage compared to peer programs elsewhere. The debt is reasonable, but if comparable programs in neighboring states or online options produce materially better outcomes, that $10,000 annual difference compounds quickly over a career.