Liberal Arts & Humanities at McHenry County College

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

with a smaller student body of 4,335 in Crystal Lake, IL.

Program Analysis

At $19,740 per year, Liberal Arts & Humanities graduates from McHenry County College earn below the $27,616 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

With a 43.2x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

Career paths for Liberal Arts & Humanities carry above-average AI exposure (0% of tasks). The 40% scenario spread means the difference between optimistic and pessimistic outcomes is substantial.

The median debt load of $5,881 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

A #690 ranking among 830 Liberal Arts & Humanities programs places McHenry County College in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The $19,740-to-$44,574 earnings arc over five years reflects a 126% gain — well above average career growth for trade school graduates.

38 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
35
Low End
38
Score
38
High End
Earnings $19,740/yr (-29% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (100% shielded)
Job Market Medium (13,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$346K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
43.2x
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)
$8,024
Out-of-state: $29,770
Median Debt at Graduation
$5,881
3.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$44,574
126% 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

From day-one roles to senior positions, Liberal Arts & Humanities careers span a range of specializations. Read the complete outlook for graduates entering other programs.

Read the full Liberal Arts & Humanities career guide →

Compare & Explore

Liberal Arts & Humanities Overview

Liberal Arts & Humanities at Other Schools

Other Majors at McHenry County 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

How does McHenry County College's Liberal Arts & Humanities program score?
This program scores 38/100 — on the lower end for Liberal Arts & Humanities. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How safe is Liberal Arts & Humanities from automation?
For McHenry County College graduates, AI risk is minimal. Liberal Arts & Humanities rated "AI-Proof" — 100% of the work involves hands-on skills that current AI simply can't perform.
How affordable is Liberal Arts & Humanities at McHenry County College?
Median debt of just $5,881 against $19,740/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 4 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Can you still earn well with Liberal Arts & Humanities from McHenry County College?
Starting salary is one data point. If McHenry County 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 →