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Liberal Arts and Sciences at Virginia State University

Petersburg, VA · 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 $34,877/yr (-6% vs median)

AI Risk Low (0% exposed)

Job Market Medium (13,500 openings/yr)

ROI 13.0x earnings multiple (5.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #186 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 and Sciences graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$508K	$508K	$484K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	13.0x	13.0x	12.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.8x	5.8x	5.5x
Probability of Field Employment	45%	45%	45%
DegreeOutlook Score	35	35	41

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$39,020

Out-of-state: $88,024 (5.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$58,212

-49% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$27,000

9.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$49,029

41% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $34,877 track close to the $37,172 national median for Liberal Arts and Sciences programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 13.0x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

With only 0% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, the scenario spread is tight at 5%. Career paths for Liberal Arts and Sciences are among the more automation-resistant we measure.

The $27,000 debt-to-$34,877 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #186 out of 424 programs, Virginia State University's Liberal Arts and Sciences offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $34,877 to $49,029 shows 41% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Virginia State University

Virginia State University has a 89% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, a smaller institution with 4,787 students in Petersburg, VA. Pell Grant recipients make up 71% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Virginia 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

Liberal Arts and Sciences at Other Schools

Other Majors at Virginia State University

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

How does Virginia State University's Liberal Arts and Sciences program score?

This program scores 35/100 — on the lower end for Liberal Arts and Sciences. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

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