Compare 75 General Studies. programs in the West. Average earnings: $42,630.
While school rankings suggest predictable outcomes, General Studies tells a different story. Across 75 programs, earnings range from $48,759 to $57,628—variation that tracks program quality, not overall school reputation.
Arizona State University Campus Immersion's General Studies program leads with graduates earning $57,628, well above the $42,630 average. Brigham Young University follows at $56,030, while Loyola Marymount University reaches $55,485—demonstrating that outcomes depend on program execution, not institutional prestige alone.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Brigham Young University graduates borrow $11,069 and face just a 4.5% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. Arizona State achieves similar excellence at 7.6%, proving that top programs can deliver both strong outcomes and manageable debt loads.
Highest program earnings: $57,628
Strong outcomes with 90% acceptance
4.5% payment burden | Excellent
9.1% family burden | Good
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $57,628 | 342 | $19,500 | Excellent | $23,519 | Challenging | |
| #2 | Brigham Young UniversityPrivate | $56,030 | 37 | $11,069 | Excellent | $9,699 | Good |
| #3 | Loyola Marymount UniversityPrivate | $55,485 | 20 | $19,500 | Good | $58,361 | High |
| #4 | Seattle UniversityPrivate | $55,317 | 40 | $19,883 | Good | $37,520 | High |
| #5 | $55,078 | 108 | $18,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Challenging | |
| #6 | $53,489 | 58 | $23,691 | Good | $58,000 | High | |
| #7 | $53,198 | 142 | $17,500 | Excellent | $18,275 | Manageable | |
| #8 | $52,770 | 265 | $16,600 | Excellent | $9,000 | Manageable | |
| #9 | $52,082 | 35 | $18,209 | Good | $10,259 | Manageable | |
| #10 | Sonoma State UniversityPublic | $51,305 | 148 | $16,705 | Excellent | $27,986 | Challenging |
| #11 | $50,537 | 235 | $13,540 | Excellent | $12,700 | Manageable | |
| #12 | $50,433 | 95 | $16,544 | Good | $15,738 | Manageable | |
| #13 | $50,096 | 39 | $21,669 | Good | $32,125 | High | |
| #14 | Azusa Pacific UniversityPrivate | $50,055 | 97 | $23,219 | Good | $26,000 | High |
| #15 | Utah Valley UniversityPublic | $49,899 | 46 | $14,750 | Excellent | $9,582 | Manageable |
| #16 | $49,653 | 125 | $13,750 | Excellent | $16,538 | Manageable | |
| #17 | $49,182 | 125 | $15,371 | Excellent | $19,732 | Challenging | |
| #18 | $48,865 | 320 | $13,872 | Excellent | $13,522 | Manageable | |
| #19 | Whitworth UniversityPrivate | $48,863 | 39 | $25,000 | Manageable | $35,875 | High |
| #20 | $48,759 | 546 | $19,000 | Good | $23,489 | Challenging | |
| #21 | $48,538 | 214 | $15,000 | Excellent | $25,565 | Challenging | |
| #22 | $47,796 | 315 | $14,715 | Excellent | $12,000 | Manageable | |
| #23 | $47,757 | 23 | $18,500 | Good | $12,624 | Manageable | |
| #24 | University Of La VernePrivate | $47,665 | 132 | $23,500 | Manageable | $27,977 | High |
| #25 | $47,100 | 39 | $18,500 | Good | $30,988 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
