Information Scienceat California State University-Fullerton
Graduates earn $49,897/yr in their first year — about 16.0% below the national Information Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $671K; scenarios range from $569K to $687K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at CSU Fullerton
First-year earnings of $49,897 place California State University-Fullerton below the $59,433 national median for Information Science — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.
With a 23.7x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 17% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Information Science career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
With first-year pay of $49,897 far exceeding the $13,071 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
A #52 ranking among 129 Information Science programs places California State University-Fullerton in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.
A 41% earnings increase from $49,897 to $70,302 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to CSU Fullerton's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Information Science
How CSU Fullerton stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at CSU Fullerton
Other highest-scoring programs offered at CSU Fullerton, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Information Science offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Information Science trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Information Science at CSU Fullerton
What does a 75/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Information Science at California State University-Fullerton?
At 75/100, 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 Information Science at California State University-Fullerton?
The 68% 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 Information Science 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.