Communication Disorders at California State University-East Bay

Hayward, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
50 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
51
Optimistic
50
Base Case
54
Pessimistic
Earnings $34,924/yr (38% vs median)
AI Risk High (46% exposed)
Job Market Large (41,400 openings/yr)
ROI 27.5x earnings multiple (10.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #2 of 103 Communication Disorders Sciences and Services programs Top 5%

Program Analysis

This program’s exceptional performance is deeply tied to its location within the dynamic San Francisco Bay Area, a region with high demand for specialized healthcare professionals. Your strong earnings potential reflects not just the program's quality, but also the competitive salaries required to attract top talent to this high-cost-of-living market. CSU East Bay’s reputation for practical, career-focused education means you'll likely benefit from robust clinical placements and local professional networks that funnel graduates directly into well-paying roles, especially in speech-language pathology and audiology. These careers often require graduate degrees, so the strong outcomes by year five suggest many graduates successfully pursue advanced studies immediately. While AI risk is noted, human-centered roles like these often see AI as an assistive tool rather than a replacement. Focus on developing strong clinical judgment and interpersonal skills, as these are irreplaceable.

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Communication Disorders graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $778K $775K $661K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 27.6x 27.5x 23.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 10.3x 10.2x 8.7x
Probability of Field Employment 61% 60% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 51 50 54

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$28,220
Out-of-state: $75,740 (10.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$45,104
-60% less than sticker · See by income
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$75,421
116% growth from Year 1

About California State University-East Bay

California State University-East Bay accepts 97% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 10,422 students in Hayward, CA. With 44% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-East Bay →

Top Career Paths

Health specialties teachers, postsecondary $105,620/yr
Speech-language pathologists $95,410/yr
Audiologists $92,120/yr
View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Communication Disorders at Other Schools

Other Majors at California State University-East Bay

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

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-East Bay's Communication Disorders program score?
This program scores 50/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Communication Disorders graduates.
How vulnerable is Communication Disorders to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Communication Disorders careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 46% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does California State University-East Bay rank so high for Communication Disorders?
The #2 ranking out of 103 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →