Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at College of DuPage

College of DuPage's associate degree in liberal arts starts modestly but shows exceptional income progression—graduates nearly double their earnings from $28,678 in year one to $45,583 by year four. That 59% earnings growth trajectory is unusual for a two-year program and suggests graduates are either transferring to complete bachelor's degrees or developing marketable skills that employers increasingly value. Among Illinois programs, this ranks squarely in the middle for initial earnings but likely outpaces peers in longer-term outcomes.

The $9,500 median debt sits slightly above the state median for this program but remains manageable, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33 that improves substantially as earnings climb. The first-year salary won't cover aggressive loan repayment, but by year four, graduates earn significantly more than the national median for this credential ($27,248). This pattern matters for families weighing a quick associate degree against immediately entering the workforce—the credential appears to unlock meaningful wage growth rather than serving as a dead end.

The key question is whether your student plans to transfer. If this is a stepping stone to a bachelor's degree, the low debt load and solid foundation make sense. If it's the terminal degree, understand that early earnings lag behind the top Illinois community colleges by $5,000-6,000 annually, though that gap likely narrows over time given the strong growth curve.