Liberal Arts and Sciences at Northwestern Michigan College

Traverse City, MI · Public · Associate Degree · Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

with a smaller student body of 2,668 in Traverse City, MI.

Program Analysis

Northwestern Michigan College's Liberal Arts and Sciences program produces graduates earning $28,706/yr — within striking distance of the $27,616 national average for this trade.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 32.8x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Liberal Arts and Sciences programs nationally.

AI disruption models show minimal impact on this program's career paths. The gap between optimistic and pessimistic scenarios is just 14% — this trade's hands-on core resists automation.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $9,500 in median debt clears fast against $28,706 in annual earnings.

Ranked #548 of 830 Liberal Arts and Sciences programs, Northwestern Michigan College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $34,098 are relatively flat compared to the $28,706 starting salary — typical of trades with stable but capped salary bands.

42 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
42
Low End
42
Score
42
High End
Earnings $28,706/yr (4% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (100% shielded)
Job Market Medium (13,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$351K
4.4% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
32.8x
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)
$10,700
Out-of-state: $25,524
Median Debt at Graduation
$9,500
4.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$34,098
19% 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 Northwestern Michigan College

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 42/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Liberal Arts and Sciences at Northwestern Michigan College?
A score of 42/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Liberal Arts and Sciences. Earnings, ROI, or job market factors are pulling the score down.
How safe is Liberal Arts and Sciences from automation?
Liberal Arts and Sciences rates as "AI-Proof" for AI resilience. With only 0% of tasks exposed to automation, the trade's physical demands provide a natural shield against AI displacement.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →