Liberal Arts & Humanities at Hawkeye Community College

Waterloo, IA · Public · Associate Degree · Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

a smaller institution with 2,528 students in Waterloo, IA.

Program Analysis

At $30,321 per year, Liberal Arts & Humanities graduates from Hawkeye Community College earn slightly above the $27,616 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 37.6x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Liberal Arts & Humanities 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 & Humanities graduates.

The median debt load of $11,987 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

Ranked #442 of 830 Liberal Arts & Humanities programs, Hawkeye Community College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $30,321 to $43,743 over five years — a 44% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.

44 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
42
Low End
44
Score
44
High End
Earnings $30,321/yr (10% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (100% shielded)
Job Market Medium (13,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$474K
9.6% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
37.6x
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)
$12,616
Out-of-state: $13,196
Median Debt at Graduation
$11,987
4.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$43,743
44% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Liberal Arts & Humanities 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

Liberal Arts & Humanities Career Guide

Liberal Arts & Humanities opens doors to multiple career tracks. Our pillar guide covers every mapped occupation with salary data and AI resilience ratings.

Read the full Liberal Arts & Humanities career guide →

Compare & Explore

Liberal Arts & Humanities Overview

Liberal Arts & Humanities at Other Schools

Other Majors at Hawkeye Community College

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 44/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Liberal Arts & Humanities at Hawkeye Community College?
A score of 44/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Liberal Arts & Humanities. Earnings, ROI, or job market factors are pulling the score down.
How AI-proof is a career in Liberal Arts & Humanities?
Highly resilient. Liberal Arts & Humanities careers are fundamentally hands-on — they require physical presence and manual skill that AI cannot replicate. Hawkeye Community College graduates retain 1 of 1 viable career paths even under conservative assumptions.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →