The Value of a Liberal Arts Degree: Students’ Perspectives on Financial and Nonfinancial Returns on Investment

2022/07/20 by Laura Barrett, Rose Helens-Hart, Rose Helens‐Hart
Business, Management and Accounting · Social Sciences · #Higher Education Research Studies #Higher Education and Employability #Management and Marketing Education

paper · doi:10.1080/10570314.2022.2100469

openalex publication_date 2022/07/20 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/25

Abstract

This study explores student perceptions of the financial and nonfinancial return on investment (ROI) of a liberal arts (LA) degree through surveys and interviews. Four prominent returns emerged through qualitative analysis of data: financial security, a credential, personal growth, and the promise of meaningful work. Results demonstrated the influence of anticipatory socialization on conceptions of meaningful work and the ROI of the LA degree. These findings detail a contemporary view of the value of a LA degree in the United States and are important for educators and administrators who seek to transition students from college to career.

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