Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at University of South Florida

University of South Florida's liberal arts program outperforms 90% of similar programs nationally and ranks in the 80th percentile among Florida schools—a genuinely impressive showing for a degree that often struggles to demonstrate ROI. Graduates earn $45,230 their first year, nearly $10,000 above the national median and trailing only Miami and UCF among major Florida universities. Even better, the $30,676 in debt sits below the national median, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio that's manageable at 0.68.

The earnings plateau tells a more complex story. While starting salaries are strong, they remain essentially flat over the first four years, suggesting graduates may need strategic career moves to see income growth. This stagnation isn't unusual for liberal arts degrees, where initial roles often require additional credentialing or job changes to advance. Still, starting at $45,000 beats beginning at $35,000 and climbing slowly.

For Florida families, this is one of the better liberal arts options available. USF delivers stronger outcomes than Florida State at a comparable public university price point, and it's significantly cheaper than Miami while producing 90% of those earnings. If your child is committed to a broad liberal arts education rather than a pre-professional track, USF provides solid value—just understand that the path to higher earnings will likely require their own initiative after graduation.