Liberal Arts & Humanitiesat California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Graduates earn $25,168/yr in their first year — about 32.0% below the national Liberal Arts & Humanities average. Base-case 10-year earnings $542K; scenarios range from $518K to $542K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Cal Poly Pomona
Your path through Cal Poly Pomona's broad Liberal Arts program offers a strong foundation in critical thinking and adaptability, skills that become increasingly valuable over a career. The initial earnings figures reflect the highly generalized nature of this degree; unlike Cal Poly's more vocational programs, this major requires you to actively *shape* your career path. Many graduates use this versatile background as a springboard for further education, like graduate school, or to enter diverse fields that value well-rounded communication and analytical skills but may not have direct recruiting pipelines for a generalist degree. To maximize your immediate post-graduation prospects in the competitive Southern California market, aggressively pursue internships and network extensively within specific industries that align with your interests. This proactive approach will help you translate your broad education into a focused, higher-earning trajectory sooner.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Cal Poly Pomona's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Liberal Arts & Humanities
How Cal Poly Pomona stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Cal Poly Pomona
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Cal Poly Pomona, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Liberal Arts & Humanities offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Liberal Arts & Humanities trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Liberal Arts & Humanities at Cal Poly Pomona
How does California State Polytechnic University-Pomona's Liberal Arts & Humanities program score?
This program scores 30/100 — on the lower end for Liberal Arts & Humanities. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Why are Liberal Arts & Humanities earnings lower at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona?
Lower starting pay at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.