Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at University of Massachusetts-Amherst

UMass Amherst's Liberal Arts program lands squarely in the middle—it matches the national median almost exactly at $36,362, but trails the Massachusetts median by nearly $3,000. In a state where liberal arts graduates from comparable public schools like Worcester State earn $44,000, that 40th percentile ranking within Massachusetts is worth noting, especially since in-state tuition makes this a natural choice for Bay State families.

The debt load of $25,742 keeps this manageable, with graduates owing less than their first year's salary—a threshold that matters for loan repayment. The 16% earnings growth to $42,130 by year four suggests steady career progression, though it's not the dramatic jump some programs deliver. At a flagship state university with a strong academic reputation (SAT scores averaging 1393), families might reasonably expect outcomes closer to the state average rather than below it.

For Massachusetts families, this is a decent value play with moderate debt and reliable—if unremarkable—earnings. Out-of-state students paying premium tuition should carefully weigh whether $36,000 starting salaries justify the higher cost when their home state flagships might deliver similar outcomes at lower prices. The program works best for students committed to graduate school or who view the liberal arts degree as a foundation rather than a direct career path.