Bachelor's+11% vs national median3,328 grads tracked
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Western Illinois University
Ranked 47th of 266 bachelor's programs in Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$48,742
middle 50%: $32,636 – $78,344
Median · 5 years out
$60,828
middle 50%: $41,918 – $91,725
Median · 10 years out
$72,018
middle 50%: $48,500 – $105,596
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Liberal Arts graduates earn a $49k median salary in their first year. By year five, median earnings reach $61k.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
6.6 yrs
≈ $7,337 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Wisconsin - Parkside
$61,332 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston - Clear Lake
$61,332 · 5 yrs out
Texas Tech University
$61,281 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston
$61,261 · 5 yrs out
James Madison University
$61,075 · 5 yrs out
CUNY Graduate School & University Center
$60,953 · 5 yrs out
West Virginia University - Institute of Technology
$60,647 · 5 yrs out
Texas State University
$60,432 · 5 yrs out
Indiana Wesleyan University - NGM Building
$60,342 · 5 yrs out
Shenandoah University
$60,243 · 5 yrs out
Northern Arizona University
$60,229 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The) - Abington
$60,130 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Western Illinois University
Education (Doctorate)
$163,593 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$107,538 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$98,269 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Master's)
$97,417 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Master's)
$97,160 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,133 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Bachelor's)
$96,422 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$84,414 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$82,090 · 5 yrs out
Construction Management (Bachelor's)
$82,014 · 5 yrs out
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General (Bachelor's)
$81,320 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$80,729 · 5 yrs out