Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at University of Mary Washington

University of Mary Washington's liberal arts program starts modestly but shows impressive momentum, with graduates seeing 35% earnings growth by year four—reaching $51,008, well above both national and Virginia medians for this field. That trajectory matters more than the somewhat soft starting salary of $37,677, which ranks in the 40th percentile among Virginia liberal arts programs.

The debt picture is reasonable at $22,354, translating to a 0.59 debt-to-earnings ratio that's manageable even in the early years. This is particularly notable given that many Virginia liberal arts programs carry higher debt loads (state median is $25,375). While top-performing programs like James Madison and Bridgewater show stronger initial earnings, UMW graduates appear to catch up over time as their careers develop.

The gap between UMW's national ranking (56th percentile) and its Virginia ranking (40th percentile) reflects Virginia's competitive liberal arts landscape rather than a program weakness. For families seeking an affordable liberal arts education with solid long-term prospects, this program offers a viable path—just expect your graduate to build their career over several years rather than commanding top salaries immediately after college.