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Liberal Arts & Humanities at Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $42,976/yr (16% vs median)

AI Risk Low (0% exposed)

Job Market Medium (13,500 openings/yr)

ROI 9.6x earnings multiple (5.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #159 of 424 Liberal Arts and Sciences programs Top 50%

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	$477K	$477K	$453K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	9.6x	9.6x	9.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.3x	5.3x	5.0x
Probability of Field Employment	45%	45%	45%
DegreeOutlook Score	36	36	39

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$49,532

Out-of-state: $90,904 (5.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$54,200

-9% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$12,500

3.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$45,509

6% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $42,976 at Northeastern Illinois University come in 16% above the national median of $37,172 for Liberal Arts & Humanities programs.

A 9.6x earnings multiple over ten years puts this program in solid financial territory. Tuition is well-justified by projected earnings.

The 5% spread between best and worst-case AI scenarios signals strong resilience. Most career paths mapped to Liberal Arts & Humanities involve work that current AI cannot replicate.

With first-year pay of $42,976 far exceeding the $12,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

A #159 ranking among 424 Liberal Arts & Humanities programs places Northeastern Illinois University in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

The limited growth from $42,976 to $45,509 over five years suggests earnings in this field plateau relatively early in one's career.

About Northeastern Illinois University

Northeastern Illinois University accepts 70% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 3,869 in Chicago, IL. Pell Grant recipients make up 54% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Northeastern Illinois 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 Northeastern Illinois 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 does a 36/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Liberal Arts & Humanities at Northeastern Illinois University?

At 36/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Liberal Arts & Humanities programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →