Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College

City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College manages to deliver something rare for community college liberal arts programs: earnings that substantially beat national expectations while keeping debt remarkably low. Graduates earn $32,568 within their first year—nearly $5,300 above the national median and landing in the 84th percentile nationally. More importantly, the debt burden averages just $6,750, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.21 that most bachelor's programs would envy.

Within Illinois, the picture gets more nuanced. Daley College sits around the 60th percentile for earnings among the state's 55 liberal arts programs, trailing schools like Prairie State and Lincoln Land by a few thousand dollars. But here's what matters: those top-earning programs carry similar or higher debt loads, meaning Daley's combination of solid earnings and minimal debt still represents one of the better value propositions in Chicago. The program appears to successfully channel graduates into living-wage jobs quickly—likely through Chicago's large service, healthcare support, and administrative sectors that actively hire associate degree holders.

For families weighing community college options, Daley offers a low-risk entry point into the workforce. The modest debt means students won't spend years repaying loans, and the earnings trajectory suggests graduates find stable employment. If your child needs a credential to start working while potentially continuing their education later, this program delivers accessibility without the financial burden that often accompanies higher education.