Animal Sciences at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
47
Optimistic
46
Base Case
43
Pessimistic
Earnings
$33,879/yr (-0% vs median)
AI Risk
High (42% exposed)
Job Market
Large (99,000 openings/yr)
ROI
13.4x earnings multiple (4.8x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Animal Sciences graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $605K | $594K | $542K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 13.7x | 13.4x | 12.2x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.9x | 4.8x | 4.4x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 46% | 42% | 33% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 47 | 46 | 43 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$44,300
Out-of-state: $123,980 (4.8x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,500
7.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$62,117
83% growth from Year 1
About California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo accepts 30% of applicants — selective, though not ultra-competitive, serving a student body of 21,521 in San Luis Obispo, CA.
See all programs and financial aid at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo →Top Career Paths
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
$87,980/yr
Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary
$86,350/yr
Animal scientists
$79,120/yr
Compare & Explore
Animal Sciences at Other Schools
Other Majors at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
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 Animal Sciences at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
A score of 46/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Animal Sciences. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Animal Sciences careers?
With 42% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $541,699 in decade earnings vs $605,078 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo's Animal Sciences program stand out?
Ranked #15 of 81 programs nationally, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →