A new report from Georgetown University on median ROI for students shows  that graduates from liberal arts universities obtain one of the highest  returns on their investment in education over the long term, when  compared to other kinds of institutions.

Georgetown’s Center on Education and the Workforce recently published “ROI of Liberal Arts Colleges: Value Adds Up Over Time,”  which shows that students from liberal arts colleges earn more than  those who attended trade or business schools in the long run. At 10  years after enrollment, the median liberal arts ROI is only $62,000,  compared with $107,000 for all institutions, but the median ROI of  liberal arts colleges eventually climbs to $918,000, compared to a  median of $723,000 for all colleges combined.  Over the long-term, the  ROI of liberal arts colleges was nearly as high as that of doctoral  universities with the two highest levels of research activity.

"Liberal  arts education gives students the necessary skills to advance in their  careers," said Lynn Pasquerella, president of the Association of  American Colleges and Universities. “Employers are looking for employees  who can advance in the profession, not just entry-level work,” she  said. “That will be the future of the work force.”

The value of a liberal arts education has come into question as many  students are opting for undergraduate study options with direct career  paths, shorter time frames and lower tuition costs.  This study suggests  not only that a liberal arts education helps to give students the  perspectives that are necessary for leadership, but that it also has  quantifiable value over time in terms of career advancement and  earnings.

For more information, see also Bennet Leckrone’s article in the Chronicle of Higher Education.