Liberal Arts & Humanities at Illinois State University

Normal, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
24 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
25
Optimistic
24
Base Case
31
Pessimistic
Earnings $31,745/yr (-15% vs median)
AI Risk Low (0% exposed)
Job Market Medium (13,500 openings/yr)
ROI 7.6x earnings multiple (4.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #343 of 424 Liberal Arts and Sciences programs

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 $489K $489K $464K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 7.6x 7.6x 7.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.4x 4.4x 4.1x
Probability of Field Employment 45% 45% 45%
DegreeOutlook Score 25 24 31

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$64,084
Out-of-state: $112,344 (4.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$75,984
-19% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,331
7.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$44,962
42% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Illinois State University's Liberal Arts & Humanities program produces graduates earning $31,745/yr — within striking distance of the $37,172 national average for this field.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 7.6x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

AI disruption models show minimal impact on this program's career paths. The gap between optimistic and pessimistic ten-year scenarios is just 5% — this field's hands-on core resists automation.

Median debt of $20,331 represents roughly 8 months of the $31,745 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #343 of 424 Liberal Arts & Humanities programs, Illinois State University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $31,745 to $44,962 over five years — a 42% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Illinois State University

A 89% acceptance rate means Illinois State University is accessible to most applicants, enrolling 18,414 students in Normal, IL.

See all programs and financial aid at Illinois State University →

Top Career Paths

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

Compare & Explore

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Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Liberal Arts & Humanities at Illinois State University?
A score of 24/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Liberal Arts & Humanities. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →