Liberal Arts & Humanities at DePaul University

Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
52 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
52
Optimistic
52
Base Case
53
Pessimistic
Earnings $84,066/yr (126% vs median)
AI Risk Low (0% exposed)
Job Market Medium (13,500 openings/yr)
ROI 3.7x earnings multiple
Ranked #6 of 424 Liberal Arts and Sciences programs Top 1%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Liberal Arts & Humanities graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $661K $661K $636K
Earnings Multiple 3.7x 3.7x 3.6x
Probability of Field Employment 45% 45% 45%
DegreeOutlook Score 52 52 53

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$177,840
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$116,564
34% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$37,499
5.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$86,015
2% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $84,066 per year, Liberal Arts & Humanities graduates from DePaul University significantly outpace the $37,172 national average for this major, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

An earnings multiple of 3.7x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

AI disruption models show minimal impact on this program's career paths. The gap between optimistic and pessimistic ten-year scenarios is just 4% — this field's hands-on core resists automation.

The median debt load of $37,499 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #6 of 424 Liberal Arts & Humanities programs nationally, DePaul University sits in the top 1% — one of the strongest programs in the country by financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $86,015 are relatively flat compared to the $84,066 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About DePaul University

With 74% of applicants admitted, DePaul University prioritizes broad access, serving 14,283 students in Chicago, IL. The average net cost of $116,564 over four years represents a 34% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at DePaul University →

Top Career Paths

Postsecondary teachers, all other $78,490/yr
View all 1 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Liberal Arts & Humanities at Other Schools

Other Majors at DePaul University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Liberal Arts & Humanities at DePaul University?
A score of 52/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Liberal Arts & Humanities field.
What makes DePaul University's Liberal Arts & Humanities program stand out?
Ranked #6 of 424 programs nationally, DePaul University lands in the top 1%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →