Liberal Arts and Sciences at Elgin Community College

Elgin, IL · Public · Associate Degree · Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

with a mid-sized student body of 6,463 in Elgin, IL.

Program Analysis

Elgin Community College's Liberal Arts and Sciences program produces graduates earning $25,377/yr — within striking distance of the $27,616 national average for this trade.

The 70.0x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

AI exposure is significant at 0% of job tasks, producing a 40% spread between best and worst-case decade earnings. The field isn't immune to disruption.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $6,500 in median debt clears fast against $25,377 in annual earnings.

Ranked #254 out of 830 programs, Elgin Community College's Liberal Arts and Sciences offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $25,377 to $48,941 over five years (93% increase) indicates that graduates in this trade see meaningful salary progression.

48 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
43
Low End
48
Score
48
High End
Earnings $25,377/yr (-8% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (100% shielded)
Job Market Medium (13,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$445K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
70.0x
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)
$6,360
Out-of-state: $19,032
Median Debt at Graduation
$6,500
3.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$48,941
93% 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 Elgin Community College

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Elgin Community College's Liberal Arts and Sciences program score?
At 48/100, 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?
This is one of the more automation-resistant trades. Liberal Arts and Sciences work requires physical skill and on-site presence — qualities AI cannot provide. Our model rates it "AI-Proof" overall.
How affordable is Liberal Arts and Sciences at Elgin Community College?
Median debt of just $6,500 against $25,377/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 3 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →