Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at University of North Carolina at Greensboro

UNC Greensboro's Liberal Arts program operates in that uncomfortable middle zone where outcomes aren't alarming but aren't particularly competitive either. Starting earnings of $31,245 trail both the state median ($33,847) and national median ($36,340) by meaningful margins. Within North Carolina's 36 schools offering this degree, UNCG lands at the 40th percentile—below the state's flagship universities and even some smaller institutions like East Carolina. The debt load of $25,898 is actually slightly better than state and national averages, which keeps this from being a financial disaster, but the earnings gap matters more than the modest debt advantage.

The 20% earnings growth to $37,419 by year four is solid and suggests graduates do gain traction in the job market over time. That $37,000+ figure becomes more respectable, though it still lags behind what graduates from UNC Chapel Hill or NC State achieve right out of the gate. The school serves a predominantly middle-income population (47% on Pell grants) with a 90% admission rate, so accessibility is clearly part of its mission. But for families considering in-state options, you're looking at 3-4 years of earnings catch-up compared to peer institutions that aren't significantly harder to access.

If cost is your primary driver and your student is already admitted to UNCG, this won't bury them in debt. But if Chapel Hill or NC State are realistic options—and they may be, given UNCG's admission profile—the earnings premium at those schools justifies the application effort.