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Ecology & Evolution at California State University-Fullerton

Fullerton, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
50 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
51
Optimistic
50
Base Case
50
Pessimistic
Earnings $35,110/yr (18% vs median)
AI Risk High (46% exposed)
Job Market Large (72,700 openings/yr)
ROI 22.1x earnings multiple (8.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #1 of 64 Ecology & Evolution programs Top 5%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Ecology & Evolution graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $635K $625K $561K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 22.4x 22.1x 19.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.4x 8.2x 7.4x
Probability of Field Employment 53% 49% 36%
DegreeOutlook Score 51 50 50

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$28,292
Out-of-state: $75,812 (8.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$22,584
20% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,387
5.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$64,330
83% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $35,110/yr, edging above the $29,875 national average for Ecology & Evolution — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 22.1x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 46% task exposure — and the 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $17,387 in median debt against $35,110 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #1 out of 64 programs, California State University-Fullerton's Ecology & Evolution program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $35,110 to $64,330 over five years (83% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California State University-Fullerton

California State University-Fullerton has a 87% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, one of the larger campuses at 36,956 students in Fullerton, CA. With 47% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

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

Top Career Paths

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary $105,620/yr
Statisticians $103,300/yr
View all 13 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 64 schools offering Ecology & Evolution →

Ecology & Evolution at Other Schools

Princeton University ($53,038) New York University ($41,024) California State University-San Marcos ($40,875) Rutgers University-New Brunswick ($39,491) Siena College ($37,789) University of Colorado Boulder ($37,184) University of Maryland-College Park ($36,375) East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania ($35,762)

Other Majors at California State University-Fullerton

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($103,028) Civil Engineering ($72,606) Mechanical Engineering ($65,252) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($63,468) Computer Science ($57,307) Computer Engineering ($55,093) Information Science/Studies ($49,897) Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($49,830)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-Fullerton's Ecology & Evolution program score?
This program scores 50/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Ecology & Evolution graduates.
How vulnerable is Ecology & Evolution to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Ecology & Evolution 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-Fullerton rank so high for Ecology & Evolution?
The #1 ranking out of 64 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 →