Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Utica University

A $27,220 debt load for a bachelor's degree that leads to first-year earnings around $36,000 might seem reasonable on paper—the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76 suggests manageable repayment. But the real story emerges when you look at how earnings evolve. By year four, Utica graduates in this program are earning $47,057, which represents meaningful growth yet still lags considerably behind top liberal arts programs in New York, where graduates can earn $46,000 to $75,000 right out of the gate.

The challenge for parents is that these earnings figures are estimates based on what similar liberal arts programs across New York typically produce, not actual reported outcomes from Utica's graduates. The debt figure of $27,220 sits right at the national median for this field but runs about $2,300 above New York's typical debt load. That difference matters when starting salaries hover in the mid-$30,000s—every additional thousand in debt translates to real monthly payment pressure in those early career years.

What this suggests practically: if your child is choosing Utica for its specific liberal arts program or campus environment, the financial picture isn't alarming but it's not particularly favorable either. The debt is average, the estimated earnings are average, and the four-year trajectory shows improvement but not enough to put graduates ahead of peers. Make sure there's a compelling non-financial reason to choose this program over lower-debt state options or higher-earning alternatives at similarly accessible New York institutions.