Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College

Malcolm X College's Liberal Arts certificate program shows exceptional first-year earnings—$36,908 puts graduates ahead of 95% of similar programs nationally and 80% of Illinois competitors. This matters because most certificate programs in this field struggle to break $30,000 annually. The $17,700 in median debt, while higher than the national median, translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48, meaning graduates owe less than half their first-year salary. For perspective, the typical Illinois program in this field carries $15,375 in debt but produces only $27,284 in earnings.

The significant caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, which means a handful of exceptional outcomes could skew the numbers substantially. With 42% of students receiving Pell grants, the college serves a financially vulnerable population where outcomes can vary widely.

If these earnings hold up with larger graduating classes, this represents an unusually strong return for a general studies certificate. The debt level is manageable given the earning power, but parents should verify current job placement rates and whether their student's goals align with what makes these graduates successful. At this price point and with these earnings, it's worth serious consideration—just recognize the small sample means less certainty than you'd have with a more established program.