Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Southwestern Illinois College

Graduates in Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities from Southwestern Illinois College experience a steady earnings trajectory. One year post-graduation, median earnings stand at $26,381, which increases to $41,022 after five years and reaches $52,045 after a decade. When considering purchasing power, the adjusted five-year salary is approximately $44,686.27, reflecting the cost of living in Illinois, which has a COL index of 0.918 compared to the national average of 1.0. This suggests that while initial earnings may seem modest, the long-term financial outlook improves significantly.

The primary industries for graduates include Health Care & Social Assistance, which accounts for over half of the employment sectors at 28.3% and 26.0%, followed by Construction at 21.5%. The estimated break-even point for graduates, compared to those with only a high school diploma, is approximately 20.3 years. This indicates that while the return on investment may take time to materialize, the degree can lead to stable employment in growing sectors, particularly in health-related fields, which are critical in the current job market.