Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other.
Data details: Graduation rate, gender, ethnicity, and summary are for this specific degree (6-digit CIP) from IPEDS. Salary, debt, and related financial outcomes are based on the degree category (4-digit CIP) from the College Scorecard API. ← Back to search
All data shown below (except Graduation rate, gender, ethnicity) is based on the category, not just this specific degree.
Please use your own discretion when interpreting these results. For certain degrees, a limited number of institutions report to the government's College Scorecard API, which may cause the data to be skewed or less representative of national trends. Consider these figures as informative but not definitive, and consult additional sources or advisors for important decisions.
Debt to Income Ratio
Debt-to-income analysis for Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other.: The DTI for this program is 59.4%, which is within the generally accepted range for higher education. While not as low as some top-performing degrees, this ratio suggests that most graduates can manage their student loan payments, especially if they secure employment in related fields. If you are considering Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other., compare your expected starting salary (currently $28088) to the average debt ($16691) to ensure it fits your financial goals in .
Degrees with a DTI between 0.5 and 0.8 are common, but it's wise to plan your budget and consider loan repayment options.
Important financial note for Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other.: The debt-to-income ratio for this program is 59.4%, which is above the recommended maximum of 80%. This means that, on average, graduates may need to dedicate a significant portion of their first-year earnings to student loan payments. If you are considering Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other., be sure to weigh the average starting salary ($28088) against the typical student debt ($16691), and explore scholarships, grants, or alternative funding sources to reduce your financial burden in and beyond.
Key Insights
Considering Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other.? This major is known for its blend of hands-on learning and career-ready skills. Graduates often start out earning $28088, and with an average student debt of $16691, the debt-to-income ratio is 0.59—pretty reasonable for most students.
With more than 511953 students earning this degree each year, you’ll be part of a vibrant community. Whether you’re interested in job security, making a difference, or just want a degree that opens doors, Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other. is a smart choice. Don’t forget: internships, networking, and campus involvement can make your experience even more valuable.
Degree Overview
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other (CIP 24.0199) is a specialized "interdisciplinary architect" category for students who refuse to be boxed into a single academic silo. While a standard Liberal Arts degree provides a broad education, this "Other" category is specifically designed for customized pathways and independent scholars who synthesize multiple fields—such as blending Data Science with Ethics, or Psychology with Business Management—to solve complex, real-world problems.
This field is ideal for "intellectual polymaths"—individuals who see the connections between seemingly unrelated subjects and want to build a personalized degree that matches a specific, emerging career niche.
What Is an "Other" Liberal Arts and Humanities Degree?
A degree in this category is a self-directed and flexible path that emphasizes critical synthesis, adaptive learning, and broad-spectrum problem solving. You will study the "Intellectual Core"—humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences—but your focus will be on integrating these disciplines. Because this code houses unique and individualized programs, your studies might be a customized blend of Sustainability and Political Science, Healthcare Administration and Sociology, or Digital Media and Cognitive Psychology. It prepares you to be a "Versatile Leader" in a rapidly changing global economy.
Schools offer this degree to:
- Provide "Individualized Study" programs for students who have specific career goals that traditional majors don't cover
- Serve as a "Completion Degree" for professionals who have diverse credits and need a structured way to finish a bachelor's degree
- Develop "Integrated Thinkers" who can bridge the gap between technical experts and the general public
- Foster Interdisciplinary Research, allowing students to study topics like the "Ethics of Artificial Intelligence" using both philosophy and computer science
What Will You Learn?
Students learn that "all knowledge is connected." You focus on intellectual agility—the ability to learn new concepts quickly and apply them across different contexts.
Core Skills You’ll Build
Most students learn to:
- Master Synthesis—combining information from different fields (like biology and economics) to create a new perspective
- Use "Critical Thinking" to evaluate evidence and arguments from diverse sources
- Design Customized Solutions for organizational problems that require a mix of human and technical knowledge
- Perform Interdisciplinary Research—using various methodologies to investigate multifaceted social or business issues
- Utilize Advanced Communication—translating complex ideas for different audiences and stakeholders
- Understand Systemic Logic—seeing how changes in one part of a system (like law) impact other parts (like culture or business)
Topics You May Explore
Coursework is a highly personalized "buffet" of disciplines tailored to your specific goals:
- Integrated Humanities: Exploring how history, art, and philosophy explain modern social challenges.
- Social Systems and Behavioral Science: Understanding human behavior within the context of economics and geography.
- Science and Technology in Society: The study of how innovation impacts human ethics and legal structures.
- Global Perspectives: Combining language, international relations, and cultural studies to understand the globalized world.
- Leadership and Organizational Theory: Blending psychology and business to manage diverse teams.
- Senior Capstone Project: An original research project or thesis that integrates all your areas of study into one final work.
What Jobs Can You Get With This Degree?
Graduates find roles as versatile managers, analysts, and coordinators in industries that value broad perspectives and "soft skills."
- Project Coordinator/Manager: Leading teams that involve both technical experts and creative staff.
- Human Resources Specialist: Managing the complex human and legal aspects of a modern workforce.
- Market Research Analyst: Using a mix of sociology, psychology, and statistics to understand consumer trends.
- Public Relations/Communications Manager: Designing the "voice" and messaging for organizations across multiple platforms.
- Non-Profit Program Director: Managing social programs that require knowledge of law, finance, and community service.
- Government Policy Analyst: Researching the wide-ranging impacts of new laws on different sectors of society.
Where Can You Work?
These specialists are the "connective tissue" in modern organizations:
- Corporate Offices: Working in strategy, operations, or internal communications.
- Health and Human Services: Coordinating care and programs in hospitals or community centers.
- Government Agencies: Working at the local, state, or federal level in administration or research.
- Educational Institutions: Working in student affairs, admissions, or administrative leadership.
- Creative and Media Agencies: Blending creative storytelling with strategic business goals.
How Much Can You Earn?
Because of the versatility of this degree, salaries depend heavily on your chosen specialization and the industry you enter.
- Project Management Specialists: Median annual salary of approximately $95,000–$120,000+.
- Human Resources Managers: Salaries typically range from $70,000 to $130,000.
- Market Research Analysts: Median annual salary of around $68,000–$110,000.
- Entry-Level Administrative/Coordinator Roles: Often start between $50,000 and $65,000.
Is This Degree Hard?
The difficulty is in the lack of a pre-set structure. You must be a "self-starter" who can manage your own education and clearly explain the value of your customized degree to employers. It requires a highly disciplined and curious mindset—you must be comfortable diving into new subjects and finding the connections between them. It is a major that rewards those who are "Strategic Generalists" and who enjoy the challenge of building their own path.
Who Should Consider This Degree?
This degree may be a good fit if you:
- Have many different interests and don't want to choose just one major
- Are a "Big Picture" thinker who likes seeing how different systems work together
- Want a flexible degree that allows you to pivot into many different careers
- Have existing college credits from multiple fields and want to finish your degree efficiently
- Believe that the most important skill for the future is the ability to learn and adapt
How to Prepare in High School
- Take a wide range of AP courses (e.g., AP Psychology, AP Environmental Science, and AP English) to build a broad knowledge base
- Participate in Extracurricular Leadership—clubs like Student Council or Model UN require interdisciplinary thinking
- Practice Independent Research—find a topic you love and try to see it from three different angles (e.g., scientific, historical, and ethical)
- Develop strong Writing and Public Speaking skills; they are the "universal tools" of a liberal arts graduate
- Volunteer for Community Projects to see how social, economic, and political issues intersect in real life
The ability to apply interdisciplinary logic and synthesis mastery to the complexities of modern life is the hallmark of a successful professional in this field.
Personality Fit (RIASEC Profile)
Official assessment tool by the U.S. Department of Labor