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

Similar liberal arts programs across Florida typically produce first-year earnings around $35,400, which puts this degree squarely in the middle of the state's range—but nowhere near what graduates earn from the University of Miami ($50,600) or UCF ($48,400). The estimated $20,400 in debt is actually lower than both the state median ($25,600) and national median ($27,000) for these programs, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58 that looks manageable on paper.

Here's the practical reality: peer programs suggest your graduate would earn roughly $36,000 in their first year, making monthly loan payments feasible at around $220. That's not financial hardship, but it's also not prosperity. Liberal arts degrees are broad by design, and outcomes depend heavily on what students do with them—internships, networking, and career focus matter enormously. Without actual data from UWF's specific program, you're betting on whether your student will land closer to the $35,000 baseline or find paths into higher-earning roles.

The modest estimated debt load is the clearest advantage here. If your student knows they'll need graduate school for their career goals, keeping undergraduate debt below $21,000 creates flexibility. But if they're expecting the bachelor's degree alone to launch a career, comparable programs in Florida suggest they should prepare for entry-level wages and a longer runway to financial independence.