Home › Northeastern Illinois University › Liberal Arts and Sciences

Liberal Arts and Sciences 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 and Sciences 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 and Sciences 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 and Sciences 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 and Sciences 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 and Sciences 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 and Sciences at Northeastern Illinois University?

At 36/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Liberal Arts and Sciences 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 →