Liberal Arts and Sciences at Marshalltown Community College

Marshalltown, IA · Public · Associate Degree · Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

with a smaller student body of 868 in Marshalltown, IA.

Program Analysis

Marshalltown Community College's Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates start at $29,836/yr — above the $27,616 national average, though not by a wide margin.

With a 42.5x 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 31% scenario spread means the difference between optimistic and pessimistic outcomes is substantial.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $8,962 in median debt clears fast against $29,836 in annual earnings.

A #396 ranking among 830 Liberal Arts and Sciences programs places Marshalltown Community College in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

A 41% earnings increase from $29,836 to $41,971 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

45 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
43
Low End
45
Score
45
High End
Earnings $29,836/yr (8% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (100% shielded)
Job Market Medium (13,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$451K
8.9% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
42.5x
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)
$10,608
Out-of-state: $11,616
Median Debt at Graduation
$8,962
3.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$41,971
41% 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 Marshalltown 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 Marshalltown Community College's Liberal Arts and Sciences program score?
At 45/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Liberal Arts and Sciences programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
How safe is Liberal Arts and Sciences from automation?
Liberal Arts and Sciences rates as "AI-Proof" for AI resilience. With only 0% of tasks exposed to automation, the trade's physical demands provide a natural shield against AI displacement.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →