Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at University of Jamestown

A general liberal arts bachelor's degree from University of Jamestown carries an estimated $27,000 in debt—right at the national median—while similar programs across North Dakota suggest first-year earnings around $43,000. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63 sits in reasonable territory, meaning graduates would owe roughly 7-8 months of their first year's salary. For context, comparable programs at Minot State and UND report earnings in this same range, while Mayville State's graduates earn considerably less, suggesting there's meaningful variation even within a small state like North Dakota.

The challenge here isn't necessarily the numbers themselves but what a general liberal arts degree translates to in the job market. These estimates derive from only three similar programs statewide, and without knowing University of Jamestown's specific career outcomes, parents should understand they're making decisions with limited visibility. The earnings figure does exceed the national median for this major by about $6,600, which likely reflects North Dakota's economy more than anything distinctive about the program itself.

The practical question is whether $27,000 in debt makes sense for a degree whose value depends heavily on what a student does with it. If your child has a clear plan—graduate school, a specific career pathway, strong networking opportunities—this could work. But if they're choosing this major by default or hoping it'll "figure itself out," that debt becomes harder to justify when peer programs show such varied outcomes.