Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at University of Maine at Augusta

For a general liberal arts degree, University of Maine at Augusta delivers surprisingly solid results. Graduates earn about $40,000 right out of college—beating the national median by roughly $3,600 and landing in the 67th percentile nationally. Within Maine, this program outperforms the state median and sits comfortably in the 60th percentile, trailing only University of Maine at Presque Isle among the state's liberal arts programs.

The $27,841 in debt is manageable, translating to a 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio that leaves room for living expenses. That's slightly above Maine's median for this degree but right in line with national norms. One limitation: earnings growth is modest at just 5% over four years, so graduates shouldn't expect dramatic salary jumps. This is typical for general liberal arts degrees, which often serve as stepping stones to further education or career pivots rather than direct paths to high-paying fields.

For Maine families, particularly those qualifying for financial aid (32% of students receive Pell grants), this program offers a cost-effective liberal arts foundation. The combination of below-average debt and above-average starting salaries makes it a reasonable choice if your child needs flexibility in their major or plans to use this degree as a launching point for graduate school or professional certification.