Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Northwestern State University
LA · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 24.01
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities degree from Northwestern State University earn a median salary of $49,764 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in LA, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $53,915. The degree typically pays for itself in 13.2 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where bachelor's graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$37,387
Typical Career
$49,764
Top Performers
$63,924
Estimated break-even: 13.2 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$332
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,147. Most students can comfortably afford about a $332 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.3x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.6x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Louisiana buys what costs $0.92 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, Public Administration.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for bachelor's graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$53,915
Nominal: $49,764 in Louisiana (COL 92.3% of national avg) · 8.3% higher purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $26,548 | $36,800 | $48,785 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $37,387 | $49,764 | $63,924 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $42,224 | $56,526 | $75,788 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $49,764 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in LA, which has a cost-of-living index of 92.3% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $49,764 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9230)
= $53,915 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The primary industries for graduates are Health Care & Social Assistance (35.8%), Educational Services (22.5%), and Public Administration (5.6%), reflecting a strong alignment with sectors that value liberal arts skills. The estimated break-even point compared to a high school-only path is approximately 13.2 years, suggesting that while the initial financial return may be lower, the long-term benefits of a degree in this field can lead to a favorable return on investment over time.
AI-assisted editorial analysis based on Census PSEO data. Fact-checked against source data.
Compare with Another School
See how the Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities degree at Northwestern State University stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.