12 Liberal Arts Colleges That Are Worth the Cost of Tuition

Planning on attending a liberal arts college? Then plan on shelling out some hard cash. With that said, liberal colleges have proven to be a great educational investment. PayScale, a salary data site, released its recent report on this year’s top liberal arts colleges by salary potential. Here are some of PayScale’s most beneficial liberal arts colleges ranked by the average starting graduate’s salary:

1. Harvey Mudd College: The average salary is $68,900. The yearly tuition is, as of the 2009-2010 school year, $38,467.

2. Claremont McKenna College: The average salary is $58,700. The yearly tuition is, as of the 2009-2010 school year, $38,510.

3. Bucknell University: The average salary is $55,800. The yearly tuition is, as of the 2009-2010 school year, $40,816.

4. Lafayette College: The average salary is $54,800. The yearly tuition is, as of the 2009-2010 school year, $37,815.

5. Swarthmore College: The average salary is $52,400. The yearly tuition is, as of the 2009-2010 school year, $37,860.

6. Amherst College: The average salary is $51,800. The yearly tuition is, as of the 2009-2010 school year, $38,928.

7. Washington and Lee University: The average salary is $50,300. The yearly tuition is, as of the 2009-2010 school year, $38,877.

8. Williams College: The average salary is $49,900. The yearly tuition is, as of the 2009-2010 school year, $39,490.

9. Colgate University: The average salary is $48,700. The yearly tuition is, as of the 2009-2010 school year, $40,970.

10. College of the Holy Cross: The average salary is $46,700. The yearly tuition is, as of the 2009-2010 school year, $38,722.

11. Bowdoin College: The average salary is $45,300. The yearly tuition is, as of the 2009-2010 school year, $40,020.

12. Carleton College: The average salary is $42,300. The yearly tuition is, as of the 2009-2010 school year, $39,777.

Still deciding between a liberal arts college and a state university? Other benefits of liberal arts colleges include: small class sizes, emphasis on the student and easy access to professors. Disadvantages, in addition to high tuition, can include: lack of diversity, no major sports teams and less majors to pick from. Be sure to take some time and research your college prospects. Outweighing the pros and cons will make your decision easier.

Via PayScale

Also read:

Liberal Arts Colleges More Affordable Than You Think

Which College Degrees Pay the Most?

$50.8 Billion in Student Loans in Default

posted on August 3rd, 2010
by Jessie, Staff Writer
Tags: amherst college, bowdoin college, Bucknell University, Carleton College, Claremont McKenna College, Colgate University, College of the Holy Cross, Harvey Mudd College, Lafayette College, liberal arts colleges, salaries, swarthmore college, Washington and Lee University, Williams College
Posted in Careers, Colleges | 4 Comments »