Illinois · Liberal Arts and Sciences

Best Liberal Arts and Sciences institutions in Illinois, ranked by earnings

The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…

Institutions
86
offering CIP 24.01
States offered
9
with a program page
Degrees / yr
25,406
IPEDS completions 2026
Median grad earnings
$42,976
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
54
College Scorecard
Median net price
$20,794
IPEDS 2026
Avg graduation rate
48%
IPEDS 2026
State pay · Postsecondary Teachers, All Other
$68,080
BLS OEWS 2024

Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1DePaul University
Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$84,0664768%$28,141$42,350
2Northwestern University
Evanston Private not-for-profit · Graduate degree
$59,1397295%$14,799$19,312
3Saint Xavier University
Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$51,0542157%$12,935$31,000
4Chicago State University
Chicago Public · Bachelor's degree
$45,7622315%$54,000
5Aurora University
Aurora Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$44,6142260%$18,431$27,000
6Northeastern Illinois University
Chicago Public · Bachelor's degree
$42,9767722%$17,000
7Governors State University
University Park Public · Bachelor's degree
$42,1077922%$36,500
8Eastern Illinois University
Charleston Public · Bachelor's degree
$40,2738847%$24,250
9Western Illinois University
Macomb Public · Bachelor's degree
$38,19613645%$28,750
10Southern Illinois University - Carbondale
Carbondale Public · Bachelor's degree
$37,5456662%$28,544

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Postsecondary Teachers, All Other (SOC 25-1199).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+1.8%
Little or no change
Openings / yr (US)
~13,500
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$78,490
typically Doctoral or professional degree

What Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in Illinois

Jobs in Illinois
1,620
BLS OEWS May 2024
State average pay
$68,080
median $61,690
Best-paying metro
$67,980
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Related careers

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Illinois.

Which Liberal Arts and Sciences program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), DePaul University tops the list at $84,066. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in Illinois?+

The average annual wage for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other in Illinois is $68,080 (median $61,690), across about 1,620 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

What is the focus of the Liberal Arts and Sciences program?+

The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…

What is the job outlook for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other?+

The national job outlook is about +1.8% growth with around 13,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

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