Program Analysis
At $35,056/yr, Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo land near the $37,172 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.9x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Liberal Arts and Sciences programs nationally.
AI disruption models show minimal impact on this program's career paths. The gap between optimistic and pessimistic ten-year scenarios is just 4% — this field's hands-on core resists automation.
The median debt load of $17,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
At #57 of 424 nationally, this is a top-5% Liberal Arts and Sciences program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Five-year earnings of $64,390 show a 84% jump from the $35,056 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.