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Computer Science at California State University-Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
63 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
64
Optimistic
63
Base Case
68
Pessimistic
Earnings $34,482/yr (-53% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (72% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (295,800 openings/yr)
ROI 41.5x earnings multiple (15.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #274 of 345 Computer Science programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $1,242K $1,174K $838K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 44.0x 41.5x 29.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 16.4x 15.5x 11.1x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 73% 40%
DegreeOutlook Score 64 63 68

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$28,256
Out-of-state: $75,776 (15.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$14,636
48% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,589
5.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$96,640
180% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $34,482 place California State University-Dominguez Hills below the $73,713 national median for Computer Science — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The 41.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI exposure is significant at 72% of job tasks, producing a 33% spread between best and worst-case decade earnings. The field isn't immune to disruption.

With first-year pay of $34,482 far exceeding the $16,589 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #274 out of 345 programs, California State University-Dominguez Hills's financial outcomes for Computer Science trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $34,482 to $96,640 over five years (180% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California State University-Dominguez Hills

California State University-Dominguez Hills accepts 91% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 12,642 students in Carson, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 61% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity. After financial aid, the average student pays $14,636 over four years — 48% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Dominguez Hills →

Top Career Paths

Computer and information systems managers $171,200/yr
Computer and information research scientists $140,910/yr
Database architects $135,980/yr
View all 13 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 345 schools offering Computer Science →

Computer Science at Other Schools

California Institute of Technology ($173,344) Carnegie Mellon University ($171,264) Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($154,492) Cornell University ($152,656) Harvard University ($152,251) Brown University ($151,065) University of California-Berkeley ($149,866) Princeton University ($146,624)

Other Majors at California State University-Dominguez Hills

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($110,626) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($49,916) Public Administration ($45,471) Health and Medical Administrative Services ($44,584) Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions ($44,374) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($43,905) Community Organization and Advocacy ($41,991) Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication ($38,798)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Computer Science trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-Dominguez Hills's Computer Science program score?
A score of 63/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but California State University-Dominguez Hills trails the majority of Computer Science programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Computer Science to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Computer Science careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 72% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are Computer Science earnings lower at California State University-Dominguez Hills?
Lower starting pay at California State University-Dominguez Hills may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →