Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Western Kentucky University

Western Kentucky's Liberal Arts program produces graduates who earn slightly below the national median but rank in the 60th percentile among Kentucky schools—a reminder that state context matters when you're likely paying in-state tuition. First-year graduates earn $35,746, just under the national benchmark of $36,340, while carrying $28,892 in debt. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.81 is manageable, sitting below both national and state medians for borrowing.

The troubling pattern here is the earnings trajectory: graduates actually earn less four years out ($33,939) than they do fresh out of college. That 5% decline suggests many graduates struggle to convert their degree into career advancement. While Liberal Arts programs often serve as stepping stones to graduate school or require time to build career momentum, this backward movement is worth noting. The program does benefit from a large sample size, so these aren't outlier results.

For Kentucky families, this program offers middle-of-the-pack performance at a highly accessible school. The debt load is reasonable enough that if your child has a clear plan—graduate school, specific career path, or entrepreneurial ambitions—they won't be crushed by repayment. But if the goal is simply "get a degree and figure it out," these numbers suggest that approach may not translate to strong earning power, at least not in the years immediately following graduation.