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Economics at California State University-Long Beach

Long Beach, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
64 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
65
Optimistic
64
Base Case
66
Pessimistic
Earnings $38,475/yr (-29% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)
ROI 23.6x earnings multiple (8.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #200 of 351 Economics programs

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 $681K $662K $582K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 24.3x 23.6x 20.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 9.0x 8.8x 7.7x
Probability of Field Employment 66% 60% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 65 64 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)
$28,032
Out-of-state: $75,552 (8.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$35,724
-27% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,250
5.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$66,961
74% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

California State University-Long Beach's Economics graduates start at $38,475/yr, trailing the $53,966 national average by 29%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

The 23.6x 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 — 56% task exposure — and the 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $18,250 in median debt clears quickly against $38,475 in annual earnings.

At #200 out of 351 programs, California State University-Long Beach's financial outcomes for Economics trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $38,475 to $66,961 over five years (74% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California State University-Long Beach

California State University-Long Beach's 47% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, serving a student body of 34,131 in Long Beach, CA. With 49% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Long Beach →

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-Long Beach

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($100,178) Construction Engineering Technologies ($89,003) Computer Engineering ($79,809) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($77,278) Civil Engineering ($73,342) Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering ($66,477) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($66,090) Mechanical Engineering ($60,996)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Economics trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-Long Beach's Economics program score?
A score of 64/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but California State University-Long Beach trails the majority of Economics programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Economics to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Economics 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 Economics earnings lower at California State University-Long Beach?
Lower starting pay at California State University-Long Beach 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 →