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

The University of Memphis offers a middle-of-the-road liberal arts program that performs slightly above the national average but trails most Tennessee competitors. While first-year earnings of $37,158 land in the 54th percentile nationally, they fall to just the 40th percentile statewide—meaning six out of ten similar programs in Tennessee produce better outcomes. Schools like Lee University and Middle Tennessee State deliver earnings over $45,000, roughly $8,000 more annually than UofM graduates see.

The real concern is the debt burden. At nearly $39,000, graduates here carry 34% more debt than the typical Tennessee liberal arts student and 44% more than the national median. This puts the program in the 5th percentile for debt—among the most expensive in the country for this degree. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.05 means your child would owe more than they'll earn in their first year, creating a challenging financial start despite the program's open admissions and accessibility for lower-income students.

If your child is set on liberal arts at a Tennessee public university, Middle Tennessee State delivers significantly better earnings with comparable accessibility. The UofM program isn't a disaster—earnings do grow 12% by year four—but the combination of below-average state performance and above-average debt makes this a questionable value when better options exist nearby.