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Philosophy at California State University-Fresno

Fresno, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $20,354/yr (-37% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (64% exposed)

Job Market Medium (15,000 openings/yr)

ROI 13.6x earnings multiple (5.0x out-of-state)

Ranked #66 of 77 Philosophy programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$360K	$380K	$385K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.9x	13.6x	13.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.8x	5.0x	5.1x
Probability of Field Employment	51%	44%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	21	20	18

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$27,920

Out-of-state: $75,440 (5.0x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$25,920

7% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$13,824

8.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

At $20,354 per year, Philosophy graduates from California State University-Fresno earn below the $32,297 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.6x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Philosophy programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Philosophy's typical career paths, with 64% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a -7% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $13,824 represents roughly 8 months of the $20,354 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #66 of 77 Philosophy programs, California State University-Fresno falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About California State University-Fresno

With 96% of applicants admitted, California State University-Fresno prioritizes broad access, one of the larger campuses at 21,070 students in Fresno, CA. With 56% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

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

Top Career Paths

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr

Mathematicians $121,680/yr

Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary $79,350/yr

View all 4 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Philosophy at Other Schools

Other Majors at California State University-Fresno

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Philosophy at California State University-Fresno?

A score of 20/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Philosophy. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Philosophy careers?

With 64% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $384,970 in decade earnings vs $360,152 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Philosophy from California State University-Fresno?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →