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Liberal Arts and Sciences at Bard College at Simon's Rock

Great Barrington, MA · Private nonprofit · Associate Degree · Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

Bard College at Simon's Rock accepts 97% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a compact campus enrolling 237 students in Great Barrington, MA.

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $13,221/yr fall 52% below the $27,616 national median for Liberal Arts and Sciences. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

At 1.7x tuition cost, the financial math is tight. Decade earnings don't dramatically exceed what you paid, making school choice and aid packages critical.

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.

A #820 ranking among 830 Liberal Arts and Sciences programs places Bard College at Simon's Rock in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The $13,221-to-$22,547 earnings arc over five years reflects a 71% gain — well above average career growth for trade school graduates.

TradeSchoolOutlook Score

Low End

Score

High End

Earnings $13,221/yr (-52% vs median)

AI-Proof AI-Proof (100% shielded)

Job Market Medium (13,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings

$232K

12.0% annual growth

Earnings Multiple

1.7x

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

$133,188

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$22,547

71% 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

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Bard College at Simon's Rock's Liberal Arts and Sciences program score?

This program scores 26/100 — on the lower end for Liberal Arts and Sciences. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

Will AI replace Liberal Arts and Sciences jobs?

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.

Is Bard College at Simon's Rock 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 →