Liberal Arts and Sciences at Virginia Western Community College

Roanoke, VA · Public · Associate Degree · Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

with a smaller student body of 3,777 in Roanoke, VA.

Program Analysis

Virginia Western Community College's Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates start at $22,071/yr, trailing the $27,616 national average by 20%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

With a 36.8x 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 40% scenario spread means the difference between optimistic and pessimistic outcomes is substantial.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $9,799 in median debt clears fast against $22,071 in annual earnings.

A #714 ranking among 830 Liberal Arts and Sciences programs places Virginia Western Community College in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The $22,071-to-$35,443 earnings arc over five years reflects a 61% gain — well above average career growth for trade school graduates.

38 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
35
Low End
38
Score
38
High End
Earnings $22,071/yr (-20% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (100% shielded)
Job Market Medium (13,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$387K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
36.8x
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)
$10,512
Out-of-state: $22,518
Median Debt at Graduation
$9,799
5.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$35,443
61% 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 Virginia Western 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

What does a 38/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Liberal Arts and Sciences at Virginia Western Community College?
At 38/100, 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?
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 Virginia Western 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 →