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Marine Sciences at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
24 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
24
Optimistic
24
Base Case
24
Pessimistic
Earnings $27,337/yr (-2% vs median)
AI Risk High (41% exposed)
Job Market Large (40,700 openings/yr)
ROI 9.3x earnings multiple (3.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #3 of 3 Marine Sciences programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $404K $413K $400K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.1x 9.3x 9.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.3x 3.3x 3.2x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 44% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 24 24 24

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 (3.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$62,496
-41% less than sticker · See by income

Program Analysis

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo's Marine Sciences program produces graduates earning $27,337/yr — within striking distance of the $27,949 national average for this field.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.3x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Marine Sciences's typical career paths, with 41% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 1% gap from the optimistic case.

This program is one of 3 schools offering Marine Sciences in our dataset — a specialized field with limited comparison points.

About California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Admission to California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is competitive, with 30% of applicants accepted, with 21,521 students enrolled in San Luis Obispo, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo →

Top Career Paths

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr
Physical scientists, all other $117,960/yr
Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers $99,240/yr
View all 7 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 3 schools offering Marine Sciences →

Marine Sciences at Other Schools

University of Maine ($29,243) California State University-Monterey Bay ($27,268)

Other Majors at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Computer Engineering ($111,560) Computer Science ($111,141) Construction Management ($92,785) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($90,576) Industrial Engineering ($87,226) Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering ($85,509) Mechanical Engineering ($83,011) Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering ($82,197)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Marine Sciences at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
A score of 24/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Marine Sciences. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Marine Sciences careers?
With 41% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $400,455 in decade earnings vs $404,326 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →