Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Wayne State College

A debt load around $27,000 for a bachelor's degree sits right at national norms for this field, but the question is whether first-year earnings near $36,000 justify that investment. Based on comparable liberal arts programs nationally, this translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.73—manageable but not comfortable. The real concern for Wayne State College is Nebraska's competitive landscape: the University of Nebraska at Omaha's liberal arts graduates earn over $40,000 in their first year, while peer programs across the state typically see slightly lower debt burdens around $23,500.

Liberal arts degrees are notoriously difficult to evaluate on earnings alone since career paths vary wildly—some graduates pursue nonprofit work or teaching, while others leverage the degree into business roles or graduate school. That said, similar programs suggest you're looking at modest starting pay that may grow substantially over time, though those long-term outcomes aren't visible in the available data. The 27% Pell enrollment indicates Wayne State serves students who need college to pay off relatively quickly.

The practical reality: if your child needs immediate earning power to service debt, this field presents challenges regardless of where they study. Wayne State's estimated numbers don't stand out as particularly strong or weak within Nebraska, but families should understand they're betting on career development that happens well beyond year one—and that bet comes with nearly $27,000 in educational debt.