Economics at California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
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)
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)
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,250
5.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$66,961
74% growth from Year 1
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
Compare & Explore
Economics at Other Schools
Other Majors at California State University-Long Beach
Explore the Trade Alternative
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 →