Liberal Arts and Sciences at Cerritos College

Norwalk, CA · Public · Associate Degree · Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

enrolling 18,710 students in Norwalk, CA.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $18,208 place Cerritos College below the $27,616 national median for Liberal Arts and Sciences — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

With a 117.1x 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.

Cerritos College ranks #203 among 830 Liberal Arts and Sciences programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.

The $18,208-to-$38,638 earnings arc over five years reflects a 112% gain — well above average career growth for trade school graduates.

49 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
45
Low End
49
Score
49
High End
Earnings $18,208/yr (-34% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (100% shielded)
Job Market Medium (13,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$320K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
117.1x
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)
$2,728
Out-of-state: $24,008
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$38,638
112% 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 Cerritos College

Explore the Degree Alternative

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Liberal Arts and Sciences at Cerritos College?
A score of 49/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Liberal Arts and Sciences. Earnings, ROI, or job market factors are pulling the score down.
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 Cerritos College one of the best schools for Liberal Arts and Sciences?
Among 830 Liberal Arts and Sciences programs, Cerritos College's #203 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.
Why are Liberal Arts and Sciences earnings lower at Cerritos College?
Starting salary is one data point. If Cerritos 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 →