Liberal Arts and Sciences at Olney Central College

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

a compact campus enrolling 549 students in Olney, IL.

Program Analysis

At $21,307 per year, Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates from Olney Central 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 42.6x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Liberal Arts and Sciences programs nationally.

The 40% gap between optimistic and pessimistic AI scenarios is notable. With 0% of typical tasks exposed to automation, AI adoption could meaningfully shift career outcomes for Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates.

The median debt load of $5,625 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

Ranked #661 of 830 Liberal Arts and Sciences programs, Olney Central College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $36,322 show a 70% jump from the $21,307 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration in this trade.

39 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
36
Low End
39
Score
39
High End
Earnings $21,307/yr (-23% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (100% shielded)
Job Market Medium (13,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$374K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
42.6x
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)
$8,780
Out-of-state: $24,680
Median Debt at Graduation
$5,625
3.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$36,322
70% 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 Olney Central 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 is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Liberal Arts and Sciences at Olney Central College?
A score of 39/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Liberal Arts and Sciences. Earnings, ROI, or job market factors are pulling the score down.
How safe is Liberal Arts and Sciences from automation?
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.
How affordable is Liberal Arts and Sciences at Olney Central College?
Median debt of just $5,625 against $21,307/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.
Can you still earn well with Liberal Arts and Sciences from Olney Central College?
Starting salary is one data point. If Olney Central College's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →