Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at University of Nevada-Las Vegas

A bachelor's in Liberal Arts at UNLV carries an estimated $26,662 in debt—nearly three-quarters of the projected first-year earnings of $36,340. These figures come from national medians of comparable programs since UNLV's graduate cohort was too small to report publicly. What's striking is the gap between these estimates and the only other Nevada benchmark: UNR's Liberal Arts graduates earn $43,520, about $7,000 more annually. That difference matters when you're carrying similar debt loads, as it translates to roughly $580 extra each month before taxes to work with during those critical early repayment years.

The debt-to-earnings ratio here sits just below the federal government's informal threshold of concern (0.8), but comparable programs nationally suggest graduates will be managing debt equal to nearly nine months of their gross income. For a degree at an open-access institution serving many first-generation students (40% receive Pell grants), this represents a meaningful financial commitment for a credential that typically leads to entry-level positions requiring further specialization or additional credentials for career advancement. The $43,520 state median offers some hope that Nevada's job market might support higher outcomes, but without actual data from UNLV's program, families should recognize they're making this investment based on peer performance rather than proven results from this specific path.