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Business · Accounting Rank #411 of 714

Accountingat California Lutheran University

Graduates earn $72,696/yr in their first year — about 35.0% above the national Accounting average. Base-case 10-year earnings $680K; scenarios range from $596K to $711K depending on AI disruption.

Thousand Oaks, CA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
68 SOLID
70
Optimistic
64
Pessimistic
Earnings
$72,696
1-year post-graduation
ROI
2.8x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$680K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
63% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at California Lutheran University

The strong earnings for accounting graduates from Cal Lutheran reflect the dynamic Southern California labor market, particularly in the Conejo Valley and greater Los Angeles area. This region boasts a high concentration of corporate headquarters and a robust professional services sector, from biotech and tech to entertainment and wealth management, all demanding skilled financial professionals. You'll find graduates quickly integrated into auditing, tax, or corporate accounting roles at regional and national firms, or within the finance departments of major companies like Amgen or Baxter, which have significant local operations. The program's location and likely strong employer connections help funnel graduates into these well-paying positions. Given the very high AI risk in the field, focus on developing critical analytical skills, strategic financial advisory, and relationship management to future-proof your career.

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
$596K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score64/100
Earnings Multiple2.9x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$680K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score68/100
Earnings Multiple3.4x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$711K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score70/100
Earnings Multiple3.5x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Career Paths

Where Accounting 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
Financial managers
+14.8% 10-yr growth · 74,600 openings/yr
$161,700/yr
High
2
Financial risk specialists
+6.5% 10-yr growth · 4,800 openings/yr
$106,000/yr
High
3
Financial and investment analysts
+5.7% 10-yr growth · 25,100 openings/yr
$101,350/yr
Moderate
4
Business teachers, postsecondary
+5.7% 10-yr growth · 8,100 openings/yr
$97,270/yr
Moderate
5
Financial examiners
+18.5% 10-yr growth · 5,700 openings/yr
$90,400/yr
High
6
Budget analysts
+1.0% 10-yr growth · 3,100 openings/yr
$87,930/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 Accounting

How California Lutheran University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Georgetown University
DC · Private nonprofit
79
DW Score
$90K
1-yr earn
5.3x
ROI
Washington and Lee University
VA · Private nonprofit
74
DW Score
$82K
1-yr earn
3.1x
ROI
Same state (CA)
Santa Clara University
CA · Private nonprofit
77
DW Score
$78K
1-yr earn
4.2x
ROI
Villanova University
PA · Private nonprofit
75
DW Score
$78K
1-yr earn
3.4x
ROI
Lehigh University
PA · Private nonprofit
76
DW Score
$77K
1-yr earn
3.8x
ROI
Also at California Lutheran University

Other top programs at California Lutheran University

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

Consider the trade route

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

Compare Accounting trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Accounting at California Lutheran University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Accounting at California Lutheran University?

This program scores 68/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Accounting programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.

Will AI replace Accounting 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.