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Philosophy at California State University-Fullerton

Fullerton, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
28 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
28
Optimistic
28
Base Case
23
Pessimistic
Earnings $30,171/yr (-7% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (64% exposed)
Job Market Medium (15,000 openings/yr)
ROI 15.2x earnings multiple (5.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #42 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 $418K $429K $418K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.8x 15.2x 14.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.5x 5.7x 5.5x
Probability of Field Employment 51% 44% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 28 28 23

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 (5.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$22,584
20% less than sticker · See by income
Reported Earnings (4 Year)
$31,759
5% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

California State University-Fullerton's Philosophy program produces graduates earning $30,171/yr — within striking distance of the $32,297 national average for this field.

The 15.2x 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 — 64% task exposure — and the -0% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At #42 out of 77 programs, California State University-Fullerton's financial outcomes for Philosophy trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About California State University-Fullerton

A 87% acceptance rate means California State University-Fullerton is accessible to most applicants, 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
Mathematicians $121,680/yr
Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary $79,350/yr
View all 4 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 77 schools offering Philosophy →

Philosophy at Other Schools

University of Pennsylvania ($73,053) Columbia University in the City of New York ($52,668) Boston College ($47,345) Utah Valley University ($43,699) CUNY Lehman College ($43,311) Southern Methodist University ($42,334) University of Washington-Seattle Campus ($42,072) University of Washington-Bothell Campus ($42,072)

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 Philosophy program score?
This program scores 28/100 — on the lower end for Philosophy. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Philosophy to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Philosophy careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 64% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →