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Liberal Arts and Sciences at University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Amherst, MA · 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 $36,362/yr (-2% vs median)

AI Risk Low (0% exposed)

Job Market Medium (13,500 openings/yr)

ROI 7.8x earnings multiple (3.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #211 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	$543K	$543K	$518K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	7.8x	7.8x	7.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.5x	3.5x	3.3x
Probability of Field Employment	45%	45%	45%
DegreeOutlook Score	34	33	38

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$69,428

Out-of-state: $157,172 (3.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$94,764

-36% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,597

7.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$54,887

51% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $36,362 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.

At 7.8x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

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 $22,597 debt-to-$36,362 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #211 out of 424 programs, University of Massachusetts-Amherst's Liberal Arts and Sciences offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $36,362 to $54,887 over five years (51% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Massachusetts-Amherst

With a 58% acceptance rate, University of Massachusetts-Amherst is moderately selective, one of the larger campuses at 23,694 students in Amherst, MA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Massachusetts-Amherst →

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 University of Massachusetts-Amherst

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

How does University of Massachusetts-Amherst's Liberal Arts and Sciences program score?

This program scores 33/100 — 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 →