Public Policy at California State University-Fullerton

Fullerton, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Public Administration
66 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
67
Optimistic
66
Base Case
66
Pessimistic
Earnings $36,626/yr (-26% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (528,800 openings/yr)
ROI 22.9x earnings multiple (8.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #17 of 45 Public Administration programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $665K $648K $580K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 23.5x 22.9x 20.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.8x 8.6x 7.7x
Probability of Field Employment 54% 49% 37%
DegreeOutlook Score 67 66 66

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 (8.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$22,584
20% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,981
4.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$68,007
86% growth from Year 1

About California State University-Fullerton

California State University-Fullerton has a 87% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, 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

Chief executives $206,420/yr
Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Construction managers $106,980/yr
View all 10 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Public Policy at Other Schools

Other Majors at California State University-Fullerton

Consider the Trade Route?

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 is the DegreeOutlook Score for Public Policy at California State University-Fullerton?
A score of 66/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Public Policy field.
Will AI replace Public Policy careers?
With 47% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $580,106 in decade earnings vs $664,544 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Public Policy from California State University-Fullerton?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →