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Economics at California State University-Fullerton

Fullerton, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
70 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
71
Optimistic
70
Base Case
70
Pessimistic
Earnings $39,993/yr (-26% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)
ROI 30.2x earnings multiple (11.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #111 of 351 Economics programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $895K $854K $713K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 31.6x 30.2x 25.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 11.8x 11.3x 9.4x
Probability of Field Employment 66% 60% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 71 70 70

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 (11.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$22,584
20% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,750
4.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$86,084
115% growth from Year 1

About California State University-Fullerton

California State University-Fullerton accepts 87% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with 36,956 students enrolled 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

Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Economics teachers, postsecondary $119,980/yr
Economists $115,440/yr
View all 9 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 351 schools offering Economics →

Economics at Other Schools

Harvard University ($103,993) Princeton University ($103,041) Duke University ($98,649) Stanford University ($98,104) Dartmouth College ($94,675) University of Chicago ($92,075) Amherst College ($90,568) Claremont McKenna College ($89,505)

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)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Economics trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 70/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Economics at California State University-Fullerton?
At 70/100, this is a high-performing program. The DegreeOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Should I worry about AI if I study Economics at California State University-Fullerton?
The 56% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Is California State University-Fullerton a good choice for Economics despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If California State University-Fullerton's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →