Liberal Arts & Humanities at Highline College

Des Moines, WA · Public · Associate Degree · Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

a compact campus enrolling 3,487 students in Des Moines, WA.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $31,291/yr, edging above the $27,616 national average for Liberal Arts & Humanities — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand for this trade.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 59.4x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Liberal Arts & Humanities programs nationally.

The 40% 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.

At $6,615 in median debt against $31,291 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

At #201 of 830 nationally, this is a top-5% Liberal Arts & Humanities program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $54,864 show a 75% jump from the $31,291 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration in this trade.

50 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
46
Low End
50
Score
50
High End
Earnings $31,291/yr (13% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (100% shielded)
Job Market Medium (13,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$549K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
59.4x
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)
$9,246
Out-of-state: $10,312
Median Debt at Graduation
$6,615
2.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$54,864
75% 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 Highline College

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 50/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Liberal Arts & Humanities at Highline College?
At 50/100, Highline College's Liberal Arts & Humanities program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
Is Liberal Arts & Humanities from Highline College a future-proof career choice?
AI resilience is a strength here. Only 0% of Liberal Arts & Humanities tasks overlap with AI capabilities, and 1 of 1 career paths remain viable even in our most conservative scenario.
How affordable is Liberal Arts & Humanities at Highline College?
Median debt of just $6,615 against $31,291/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 3 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Is Highline College one of the best schools for Liberal Arts & Humanities?
Among 830 Liberal Arts & Humanities programs, Highline College's #201 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →