Liberal Arts and Sciences at College of Lake County

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

serving 9,282 students in Grayslake, IL.

Program Analysis

At $33,413 per year, Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates from College of Lake County earn slightly above the $27,616 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 58.2x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Liberal Arts and Sciences programs nationally.

The 33% 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 $6,461 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

At #132 of 830 nationally, this is a top-5% Liberal Arts and Sciences program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $33,413 to $48,288 over five years — a 45% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.

52 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
49
Low End
52
Score
51
High End
Earnings $33,413/yr (21% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (100% shielded)
Job Market Medium (13,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$523K
9.6% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
58.2x
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)
$8,988
Out-of-state: $28,072
Median Debt at Graduation
$6,461
2.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$48,288
45% 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 College of Lake County

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 does a 52/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Liberal Arts and Sciences at College of Lake County?
At 52/100, College of Lake County's Liberal Arts and Sciences program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
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.
What's the typical debt for Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates from College of Lake County?
Median debt of just $6,461 against $33,413/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 2 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Is College of Lake County one of the best schools for Liberal Arts and Sciences?
The #132 ranking out of 830 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable, and the job market supports this trade.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →