Psychology at California Lutheran University

Thousand Oaks, CA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Psychology, General
29 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
30
Optimistic
29
Base Case
29
Pessimistic
Earnings $30,918/yr (-2% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (125,000 openings/yr)
ROI 3.1x earnings multiple
Ranked #663 of 926 Psychology, General programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Psychology graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $633K $621K $556K
Earnings Multiple 3.1x 3.1x 2.7x
Probability of Field Employment 51% 47% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 30 29 29

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
$23,000
8.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$62,074
101% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $30,918/yr, roughly in line with the $31,705 national median for Psychology. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

An earnings multiple of 3.1x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Psychology's typical career paths, with 49% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 12% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $23,000 represents roughly 9 months of the $30,918 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #663 of 926 Psychology programs, California Lutheran University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $62,074 show a 101% jump from the $30,918 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About California Lutheran University

California Lutheran University accepts 89% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, 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

Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Psychologists, all other $117,580/yr
Industrial-organizational psychologists $109,840/yr
View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Psychology 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 Psychology at California Lutheran University?
A score of 29/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Psychology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Psychology careers?
With 49% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $556,062 in decade earnings vs $632,951 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →