Liberal Arts and Sciences at Mountain Empire Community College

Big Stone Gap, VA · Public · Certificate · Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

with a smaller student body of 1,240 in Big Stone Gap, VA.

Program Analysis

At $16,029 per year, Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates from Mountain Empire Community College earn below the $27,616 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 34.5x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Liberal Arts and Sciences programs nationally.

AI disruption models show minimal impact on this program's career paths. The gap between optimistic and pessimistic scenarios is just 0% — this trade's hands-on core resists automation.

Ranked #778 of 830 Liberal Arts and Sciences programs, Mountain Empire Community College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

35 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
37
Low End
35
Score
34
High End
Earnings $16,029/yr (-42% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (100% shielded)
Job Market Medium (13,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$168K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
34.5x
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)
$4,863
Out-of-state: $10,866

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 Mountain Empire 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

What does a 35/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Liberal Arts and Sciences at Mountain Empire Community College?
A score of 35/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Liberal Arts and Sciences. Earnings, ROI, or job market factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Liberal Arts and Sciences jobs?
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 Mountain Empire Community College a good choice for Liberal Arts and Sciences despite lower starting pay?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →