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Liberal Arts and Sciences: DePaul University vs Metropolitan State University

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
DePaul University
Chicago, IL
Metropolitan State University
Saint Paul, MN
3.7x
$177,840 tuition
15.7x
$39,120 tuition
$660,716 10-yr earnings · Private nonprofit
$612,268 10-yr earnings · Public

Head-to-Head

DePaul University Metropolitan State University
Earnings Multiple 3.7x 15.7x
4-Year Tuition $177,840 $39,120
Year 1 Earnings $84,066 $49,083
10-Year Earnings $661K $612K
Median Debt $37,499 $16,499
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 5.4 months 4.0 months
DegreeWorth Score 39/100 48/100
Acceptance Rate 73.5% 96.5%

Both programs have low AI automation risk (0% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates.

DePaul University Metropolitan State University
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $177,840 $39,120
10-Year Projected Earnings $661K $612K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 3.7x 15.7x
5-Year Salary Growth +2% +43%

"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.

AI Disruption Scenarios

Both schools share identical AI exposure for Liberal Arts and Sciences (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

DePaul University Metropolitan State University
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $661K $661K $636K $612K $612K $588K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 3.7x 3.7x 3.6x 15.7x 15.7x 15.0x
DegreeWorth Score 38 39 41 48 48 50

For the full AI analysis of Liberal Arts and Sciences career paths, see the DePaul University or Metropolitan State University program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$138,720
Metropolitan State University saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$34,983/yr
DePaul University grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
3.7x / 15.7x
Earnings multiple (10yr earnings ÷ tuition)

Career Paths

Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.

Career Path Wage Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Postsecondary teachers, all other $78,490 13,500 +1.8% 0%
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Explore Each Program

Liberal Arts and Sciences at DePaul University → Liberal Arts and Sciences at Metropolitan State University →

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Liberal Arts and Sciences Overview

View all schools offering Liberal Arts and Sciences →

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Liberal Arts and Sciences: DePaul University or Metropolitan State University?
DePaul University scores 39/100 while Metropolitan State University scores 48/100. Metropolitan State University has significantly lower tuition, which drives its higher ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Liberal Arts and Sciences?
DePaul University has an in-state earnings multiple of 3.7x vs Metropolitan State University's 15.7x. That means Metropolitan State University grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition. The $138,720 tuition gap is the biggest driver of this difference.
How do DePaul University and Metropolitan State University compare on Liberal Arts and Sciences earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $84,066 at DePaul University vs $49,083 at Metropolitan State University. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $660,716 vs $612,268 — a difference of $48,448.
How much does Liberal Arts and Sciences cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $177,840 at DePaul University and $39,120 at Metropolitan State University. Median debt at graduation is $37,499 vs $16,499. Both programs lead to the same Liberal Arts and Sciences career paths — the cost difference is the main factor in ROI.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections. "Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI. Last updated 2025.