Liberal Arts and Sciences at Southwest College for the Deaf

Big Spring, TX · Public · Associate Degree · Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

a compact campus enrolling 47 students in Big Spring, TX.

Program Analysis

At $36,240 per year, Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates from Southwest College for the Deaf significantly outpace the $27,616 national average for this trade, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 77.1x 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 11% — this trade's hands-on core resists automation.

The median debt load of $7,700 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

Ranked #55 of 830 programs, Southwest College for the Deaf's Liberal Arts and Sciences program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $41,694 are relatively flat compared to the $36,240 starting salary — typical of trades with stable but capped salary bands.

57 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
57
Low End
57
Score
57
High End
Earnings $36,240/yr (31% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (100% shielded)
Job Market Medium (13,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$426K
3.6% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
77.1x
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)
$5,532
Out-of-state: $28,092
Median Debt at Graduation
$7,700
2.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$41,694
15% 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 Southwest College for the Deaf

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 Southwest College for the Deaf's Liberal Arts and Sciences program score?
A score of 57/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Liberal Arts and Sciences field.
How safe is Liberal Arts and Sciences from automation?
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.
What's the typical debt for Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates from Southwest College for the Deaf?
Median debt of just $7,700 against $36,240/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 →