Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $21,640/yr fall 42% below the $37,172 national median for Liberal Arts and Sciences. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
The earnings-to-cost ratio of 5.8x 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 6% — this field's hands-on core resists automation.
Median debt of $27,000 against $21,640/yr in first-year earnings means roughly 1.2 years of salary goes to loan repayment. That's a heavy but not crushing debt load.
Ranked #414 of 424 Liberal Arts and Sciences programs, Livingstone College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Earnings grow from $21,640 to $31,627 over five years — a 46% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.