Is a liberal arts degree worth it?

Think Out Loud

Is a liberal arts degree worth it?

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Published on Apr 29, 2026, 1:00:00 PM
Total time: 00:52:04

Episode Description

Student debt in the U.S. has risen dramatically in the last few decades, while recent college graduates are having a harder time finding work. For the last five years, the unemployment rate of college graduates is above the national average and students graduate with an average of $40,000 dollars of debt. Meanwhile, students with degrees in technology or finance might find they are facing a work landscape transformed by artificial intelligence. But what about a liberal arts degree? We sit down with students, faculty and administrators at Linfield University to ask whether a liberal arts degree is still worth it.

More about Think Out Loud

OPB's daily conversation covering news, politics, culture and the arts. Hosted By Dave Miller.