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

A $27,000 debt load for a bachelor's degree that national peer programs suggest will yield around $36,000 in first-year earnings creates a workable but tight financial picture. That 0.74 debt-to-earnings ratio sits in reasonable territory—your child could theoretically dedicate three-quarters of one year's salary to loan payoff. However, with 44% of students receiving Pell grants, York serves many families for whom even this moderate debt level represents real financial strain.

The challenge here is visibility. Both the earnings and debt figures are estimates drawn from similar liberal arts programs nationally because York's graduate sample was too small for the Department of Education to report actual outcomes. We know that liberal arts programs in Nebraska typically produce first-year earnings around $35,000, with debt closer to $23,500—suggesting York's estimated debt might run slightly higher than state norms. Meanwhile, University of Nebraska-Omaha's liberal arts graduates earn over $40,000, demonstrating that outcomes vary considerably even within the state.

For families considering York, the fundamental question is whether this degree provides clear career direction or serves primarily as a stepping stone to graduate school. General liberal arts degrees demand additional credentials or strong networking to translate into solid employment outcomes. Without verified data showing York's specific track record in job placement or graduate school acceptance, you're making this investment largely on faith in the broader liberal arts model rather than evidence from this particular program.