Liberal Arts and Sciences at Santiago Canyon College

Orange, CA · Public · Certificate · Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

enrolling 10,613 students in Orange, CA.

Program Analysis

At $31,050 per year, Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates from Santiago Canyon College earn slightly above the $27,616 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 430.1x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

AI exposure is significant at 0% of job tasks, producing a 35% spread between best and worst-case decade earnings. The field isn't immune to disruption.

The median debt load of $4,688 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

Ranked #14 out of 830 programs, Santiago Canyon College's Liberal Arts and Sciences program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $31,050 to $45,862 shows 48% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

61 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
60
Low End
61
Score
61
High End
Earnings $31,050/yr (12% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (100% shielded)
Job Market Medium (13,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$501K
10.2% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
430.1x
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)
$1,164
Out-of-state: $9,612
Median Debt at Graduation
$4,688
1.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$45,862
48% 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

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 is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Liberal Arts and Sciences at Santiago Canyon College?
This program scores 61/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates.
Will AI replace Liberal Arts and Sciences jobs?
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.
What's the typical debt for Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates from Santiago Canyon College?
Median debt of just $4,688 against $31,050/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 Santiago Canyon College one of the best schools for Liberal Arts and Sciences?
Among 830 Liberal Arts and Sciences programs, Santiago Canyon College's #14 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →