Liberal Arts and Sciences at Big Bend Community College

Moses Lake, WA · Public · Associate Degree · Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

with a smaller student body of 1,281 in Moses Lake, WA.

Program Analysis

At $22,737 per year, Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates from Big Bend Community College earn below the $27,616 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

With a 40.6x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

Career paths for Liberal Arts and Sciences carry above-average AI exposure (0% of tasks). The 40% scenario spread means the difference between optimistic and pessimistic outcomes is substantial.

The median debt load of $7,213 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

A #680 ranking among 830 Liberal Arts and Sciences programs places Big Bend Community College in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The $22,737-to-$37,928 earnings arc over five years reflects a 67% gain — well above average career growth for trade school graduates.

39 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
36
Low End
39
Score
39
High End
Earnings $22,737/yr (-18% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (100% shielded)
Job Market Medium (13,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$399K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
40.6x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
1 of 1
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$9,818
Out-of-state: $10,886
Median Debt at Graduation
$7,213
3.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$37,928
67% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Postsecondary teachers, all other $78,490 +1.8% 100%
Postsecondary teachers, all other
$78,490
+1.8% growth 100% AI-proof

About Liberal Arts and Sciences Careers

Your studies in humanities and sciences can lead to a career shaping minds in higher education. As a community college instructor, your days are focused on the classroom. You’ll craft engaging lectures, lead discussions on foundational texts, and spend afternoons in office hours, helping students one-on-one with their essays and research projects. At a four-year university, your role often expands to include original research, meaning you might spend your mornings teaching a seminar and your afternoons in the library archives, contributing new knowledge to your field by writing articles and books.

Read the full Liberal Arts and Sciences career guide →

Compare & Explore

Liberal Arts and Sciences Overview

Liberal Arts and Sciences at Other Schools

Other Majors at Big Bend Community College

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Big Bend Community College's Liberal Arts and Sciences program score?
At 39/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Liberal Arts and Sciences programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
How AI-proof is a career in Liberal Arts and Sciences?
Highly resilient. Liberal Arts and Sciences careers are fundamentally hands-on — they require physical presence and manual skill that AI cannot replicate. Graduates retain 1 of 1 viable career paths even under conservative assumptions.
Is Big Bend Community College a good choice for Liberal Arts and Sciences despite lower starting pay?
Lower starting pay at Big Bend Community College may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →