Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

UW-Green Bay graduates with this liberal arts degree start with earnings 50% above the national median for their field—an impressive launch that places them in the 95th percentile nationally. That first-year salary of $54,436 substantially exceeds what liberal arts graduates typically earn, even compared to top Wisconsin programs like UW-Oshkosh. The $27,000 debt load is right at national norms, making the initial debt-to-earnings ratio quite favorable at 0.5.

The complication here is what happens next: by year four, median earnings drop to $44,500, an 18% decline that's unusual for any bachelor's program. This pattern suggests graduates may be starting in temporary or project-based roles that don't lead to career advancement, or that many pivot to graduate school or different career paths after a few years. Even with this drop, they're still earning roughly what Wisconsin liberal arts graduates typically make, but the trajectory reverses the typical career progression you'd expect.

For families evaluating this program, the question is whether that strong initial salary justifies the investment, knowing that mid-career earnings may plateau near state averages. If your student plans to use this degree as a stepping stone to graduate school or a specific credential, that first-year premium could be valuable. But if they're expecting steady earnings growth in a liberal arts career, the data suggests tempering those expectations.