Liberal Arts & Humanities at Colorado Mesa University

Grand Junction, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
38 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
38
Optimistic
38
Base Case
41
Pessimistic
Earnings $42,136/yr (13% vs median)
AI Risk Low (0% exposed)
Job Market Medium (13,500 openings/yr)
ROI 12.2x earnings multiple (4.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #106 of 424 Liberal Arts and Sciences programs Top 25%

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 $475K $475K $451K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.2x 12.2x 11.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.9x 4.9x 4.6x
Probability of Field Employment 45% 45% 45%
DegreeOutlook Score 38 38 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)
$38,848
Out-of-state: $97,248 (4.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$61,324
-58% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,000
7.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$45,017
7% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $42,136 per year, Liberal Arts & Humanities graduates from Colorado Mesa University earn slightly above the $37,172 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.2x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Liberal Arts & Humanities programs nationally.

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 $25,000 represents roughly 7 months of the $42,136 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #106 of 424 nationally, this is a top-5% Liberal Arts & Humanities program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $45,017 are relatively flat compared to the $42,136 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Colorado Mesa University

With 81% of applicants admitted, Colorado Mesa University prioritizes broad access, with a mid-sized student body of 7,604 in Grand Junction, CO.

See all programs and financial aid at Colorado Mesa 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 Colorado Mesa 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 is the DegreeOutlook Score for Liberal Arts & Humanities at Colorado Mesa University?
A score of 38/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Liberal Arts & Humanities. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
What makes Colorado Mesa University's Liberal Arts & Humanities program stand out?
Ranked #106 of 424 programs nationally, Colorado Mesa University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →