Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at William Jewell College

William Jewell College graduates are earning $50,663 right out of college with this liberal arts degree—nearly $13,000 more than Missouri students in similar programs and $14,000 above the national median. At the 95th percentile nationally and 80th percentile in Missouri, this program dramatically outperforms what you'd typically expect from a general studies degree. Only Saint Louis University produces higher-earning liberal arts graduates in the state, and even then, William Jewell isn't far behind.

The debt picture is reasonable at $26,831, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53—meaning your child would owe roughly half their first-year salary. That's manageable by any standard, particularly given the strong initial earnings. The 17% earnings growth through year four suggests graduates are finding professional paths that value their education, pushing median pay to nearly $59,000.

For a selective liberal arts college (34% admission rate), William Jewell appears to have cracked the code that many similar institutions struggle with: translating a general studies education into tangible career outcomes. The combination of strong starting salaries, modest debt, and solid earnings trajectory makes this one of Missouri's best values for students who want a liberal arts foundation without sacrificing earning potential.