Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Vassar College

Vassar's elite reputation doesn't translate to early earnings for liberal arts majors—graduates earn $35,316 their first year out, landing below both the national median ($36,340) and the New York state median ($35,817) for this field. That 40th percentile ranking among New York liberal arts programs means this highly selective institution (18% admission rate, 1513 average SAT) produces outcomes trailing 60% of the state's programs, including powerhouses like Cornell and Union College that deliver significantly higher returns.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $18,652, graduates carry about 30% less debt than the typical New York liberal arts student. This keeps the debt-to-earnings ratio at a manageable 0.53, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off loans in about 6-7 months of gross income. Still, the low starting salary means that even modest debt takes a bite—and these numbers likely reflect Vassar's mission of making education accessible to talented students regardless of background, evidenced by their 21% Pell grant enrollment.

For families paying full freight at a school with a $65,000+ sticker price, these outcomes demand serious consideration. Vassar delivers an outstanding education and opens doors long-term, but if your child needs their degree to generate immediate financial returns, understand that this particular path starts slow. The value here is in what happens years 5-10 after graduation, not year one.