Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Utah Valley University

Utah Valley University's liberal arts program delivers something rare: strong outcomes at a genuinely affordable price. With first-year earnings of $44,366, graduates are earning 22% above the national median for this degree and ranking in the 86th percentile nationally—a surprisingly robust performance for a program often criticized for its ROI. Within Utah, where competition is limited to just seven schools, this program sits in the 60th percentile, trailing only Weber State among major public institutions.

The financial picture is equally compelling. At $21,458 in median debt, students are borrowing significantly less than the $27,000 national median, resulting in a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48—well within the manageable range. Graduates can reasonably expect to pay off their loans within a few years while building toward the $49,899 they're earning by year four. That 13% earnings growth suggests graduates are finding their footing in the workforce rather than hitting an immediate ceiling.

For families weighing this program against Utah's alternatives, UVU offers better value than Southern Utah or Utah State, though Weber State edges it out slightly on earnings. The moderate sample size means individual outcomes will vary, but the fundamentals here are sound: this is an accessible liberal arts degree that actually delivers measurable economic returns.