Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame's Liberal Arts degree delivers what anxious parents fear most programs can't: strong earnings that grow substantially over time. Graduates earn $45,579 in their first year—25% above the national median for this major—and that jumps to nearly $60,000 by year four. Among Indiana's 39 schools offering this degree, Notre Dame ranks in the 80th percentile, trailing only a few programs while charging significantly less debt than the state median ($18,800 versus $27,000).

The debt picture is particularly reassuring. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41, graduates owe less than half their first year's salary—manageable by any standard. That's roughly $8,200 less debt than peers across Indiana and nationwide, while earning substantially more. The 31% earnings growth over four years suggests graduates are landing positions with real advancement potential, not dead-end jobs.

Here's the practical reality: Notre Dame's prestige and alumni network turn a degree that often struggles in the job market into a genuinely viable launch pad. Liberal Arts majors here out-earn 91% of their peers nationally, a rare outcome for a program that typically raises red flags. For families who can handle Notre Dame's tuition (note the low 12% Pell grant enrollment), this represents smart value—you're paying for outcomes that actually materialize.