Linguistics at California State University-Fullerton
Fullerton, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
32
Optimistic
32
Base Case
28
Pessimistic
Earnings
$22,723/yr (-18% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market
Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI
17.9x earnings multiple (6.7x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Linguistics graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $508K | $506K | $470K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 17.9x | 17.9x | 16.6x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 6.7x | 6.7x | 6.2x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 43% | 38% | 28% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 32 | 32 | 28 |
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 (6.7x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,979
6.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$43,659
92% growth from Year 1
About California State University-Fullerton
California State University-Fullerton accepts 87% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, 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
Social scientists and related workers, all other
$100,340/yr
English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
$78,270/yr
Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
$77,010/yr
Compare & Explore
Linguistics at Other Schools
Other Majors at California State University-Fullerton
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-Fullerton's Linguistics program score?
This program scores 32/100 — on the lower end for Linguistics. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Linguistics to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Linguistics careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 56% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are Linguistics earnings lower at California State University-Fullerton?
Lower starting pay at California State University-Fullerton may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →