Home Schools Ashford University Behavioral Sciences
Multi / Interdisciplinary · Behavioral Sciences Rank #8 of 18

Behavioral Sciencesat Ashford University

Graduates earn $37,661/yr in their first year — about 9.0% above the national Behavioral Sciences average. Base-case 10-year earnings $458K; scenarios range from $437K to $455K depending on AI disruption.

San Diego, CA Private for-profit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
32 AT RISK
32
Optimistic
33
Pessimistic
Earnings
$37,661
1-year post-graduation
ROI
6.9x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$458K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
45% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Ashford University

Ashford's Behavioral Sciences program stands out nationally, a testament to its practical curriculum and potentially its student body, which often includes working adults seeking career advancement or credentialing. While the university's for-profit model sometimes draws scrutiny, your outcomes here suggest an effective pipeline into the workforce. The San Diego region's diverse economy, particularly its healthcare, non-profit, and tech sectors, offers numerous entry points for graduates in roles like human resources, community outreach, or case management, which likely contribute to the above-average early career earnings.

However, the high AI risk associated with this field means that future success hinges on continuous skill development. To thrive, you'll need to proactively acquire advanced data analysis, specialized therapeutic techniques, or human-centered design skills to complement your foundational knowledge. Consider how you can differentiate yourself through internships or further certification, positioning yourself for the higher-level, less automatable roles that require nuanced human interaction and critical judgment.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$437K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score33/100
Earnings Multiple8.3x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$458K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score32/100
Earnings Multiple8.7x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$455K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score32/100
Earnings Multiple8.6x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Ashford University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Behavioral Sciences graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Psychologists, all other
+4.3% 10-yr growth · 3,900 openings/yr
$117,580/yr
Moderate
2
Social scientists and related workers, all other
-1.7% 10-yr growth · 3,200 openings/yr
$100,340/yr
High
3
Life scientists, all other
+3.7% 10-yr growth · 400 openings/yr
$87,800/yr
Low
4
Psychology teachers, postsecondary
+3.6% 10-yr growth · 4,000 openings/yr
$80,330/yr
Moderate
5
Social and community service managers
+6.4% 10-yr growth · 18,600 openings/yr
$78,240/yr
Moderate
6
Social science research assistants
+4.4% 10-yr growth · 5,200 openings/yr
$58,040/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Behavioral Sciences

How Ashford University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Wilmington University
DE · Private nonprofit
37
DW Score
$39K
1-yr earn
8.7x
ROI
University of Phoenix-Arizona
AZ · Private for-profit
37
DW Score
$38K
1-yr earn
10.4x
ROI
Same state (CA)
University of Phoenix-California
CA · Private for-profit
34
DW Score
$38K
1-yr earn
University of Phoenix-Nevada
NV · Private for-profit
34
DW Score
$38K
1-yr earn
University of Phoenix-Texas
TX · Private for-profit
34
DW Score
$38K
1-yr earn
Also at Ashford University

Other top programs at Ashford University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Ashford University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Behavioral Sciences offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Behavioral Sciences trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Behavioral Sciences at Ashford University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Behavioral Sciences at Ashford University?

A score of 32/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Behavioral Sciences. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Is Behavioral Sciences at Ashford University worth the student debt?

Median debt of $40,083 against $37,661/yr starting salary means roughly 1.1 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.

Will AI replace Behavioral Sciences careers?

With 36% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $437,008 in decade earnings vs $455,286 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.