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

The headline here isn't Villanova's reputation—it's a brutal first-year salary of $25,436 that ranks in the bottom 5% nationally for liberal arts programs. At a highly selective university where 88% of students come from families wealthy enough to not qualify for Pell grants, graduates in this program earn less initially than many community college alumni.

The positive spin exists, but requires patience: earnings jump to $56,373 by year four, outpacing most Pennsylvania liberal arts programs and creating a manageable debt burden relative to that later income. Still, that first year matters enormously. A graduate facing rent, loan payments, and basic expenses on $25,000 will struggle regardless of what happens three years later. This isn't about "finding your footing"—the school's own data suggests many graduates may be in unpaid internships, graduate school, or underemployed positions immediately after a $250,000+ education.

For context, Temple and Indiana University of Pennsylvania graduates in the same field start at salaries 30-40% higher. If your child is serious about liberal arts at Villanova, make sure they have a plan that doesn't depend on that first-year salary being livable. The degree eventually pays off for those who can weather the difficult start, but families should carefully consider whether they can afford to subsidize those early years.