Liberal Arts and Sciences at Southwestern Illinois College

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

serving 5,280 students in Belleville, IL.

Program Analysis

Southwestern Illinois College's Liberal Arts and Sciences program produces graduates earning $25,513/yr — within striking distance of the $27,616 national average for this trade.

With a 57.4x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

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

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $6,347 in median debt clears fast against $25,513 in annual earnings.

A #393 ranking among 830 Liberal Arts and Sciences programs places Southwestern Illinois College in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

The $25,513-to-$39,906 earnings arc over five years reflects a 56% gain — well above average career growth for trade school graduates.

45 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
42
Low End
45
Score
45
High End
Earnings $25,513/yr (-8% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (100% shielded)
Job Market Medium (13,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$444K
11.8% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
57.4x
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)
$7,740
Out-of-state: $12,420
Median Debt at Graduation
$6,347
3.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$39,906
56% 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 Southwestern Illinois 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 is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Liberal Arts and Sciences at Southwestern Illinois College?
At 45/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Liberal Arts and Sciences programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
How AI-proof is a career in Liberal Arts and Sciences?
This is one of the more automation-resistant trades. Liberal Arts and Sciences work requires physical skill and on-site presence — qualities AI cannot provide. Our model rates it "AI-Proof" overall.
What's the typical debt for Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates from Southwestern Illinois College?
Median debt of just $6,347 against $25,513/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.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →