Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at University of New Mexico-Main Campus

UNM's Liberal Arts program sits squarely in the middle for New Mexico—ranking at the 60th percentile among state programs—but trails the national median by roughly $5,000 annually. That might not sound like much until you consider the debt load: at $23,125, graduates carry debt in the 77th percentile nationally (meaning higher than 77% of similar programs). The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74 is manageable in absolute terms, but the gap between what UNM grads earn and what Eastern New Mexico graduates make ($43,186 vs. $31,428) raises questions about whether this particular program delivers competitive value within the state.

The 25% earnings growth from year one to year four offers some optimism—graduates aren't stuck at entry-level wages. But even at $39,130 four years out, these earnings remain modest. For families paying in-state tuition and keeping debt under $25,000, this becomes a question of opportunity cost: liberal arts programs vary widely in outcomes, and UNM's version performs below the national benchmark despite being the flagship state university.

If your child is genuinely passionate about liberal arts and plans to stay in New Mexico, this program won't saddle them with unmanageable debt. But given that several in-state alternatives perform comparably or better, and that this program underperforms nationally, it's worth exploring whether more targeted degree programs at UNM might offer stronger returns on the same tuition investment.