Accounting and Related Services at California Lutheran University

Thousand Oaks, CA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
68 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
70
Optimistic
68
Base Case
64
Pessimistic
Earnings $72,696/yr (35% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (62% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (451,900 openings/yr)
ROI 3.4x earnings multiple
Ranked #411 of 714 Accounting and Related Services programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Accounting and Related Services graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $711K $680K $596K
Earnings Multiple 3.5x 3.4x 2.9x
Probability of Field Employment 76% 65% 45%
DegreeOutlook Score 70 68 64

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$202,680
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$105,732
48% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,078
3.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$77,276
6% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates of California Lutheran University's Accounting and Related Services program earn $72,696/yr in their first year — 35% above the $53,724 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

An earnings multiple of 3.4x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Accounting and Related Services's typical career paths, with 62% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 16% gap from the optimistic case.

At $22,078 in median debt against $72,696 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #411 of 714 Accounting and Related Services programs, California Lutheran University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $77,276 are relatively flat compared to the $72,696 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About California Lutheran University

California Lutheran University has a 89% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, a compact campus enrolling 2,374 students in Thousand Oaks, CA. After financial aid, the average student pays $105,732 over four years — 48% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at California Lutheran University →

Top Career Paths

Financial managers $161,700/yr
Financial risk specialists $106,000/yr
Financial and investment analysts $101,350/yr
View all 14 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Accounting and Related Services at Other Schools

Other Majors at California Lutheran University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Accounting and Related Services at California Lutheran University?
This program scores 68/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Accounting and Related Services programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI replace Accounting and Related Services careers?
With 62% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $596,424 in decade earnings vs $711,388 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →