Financeat California State University-Long Beach
Graduates earn $48,961/yr in their first year — about 12.0% below the national Finance average. Base-case 10-year earnings $639K; scenarios range from $574K to $659K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at CSU Long Beach
First-year earnings of $48,961 track close to the $55,340 national median for Finance programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 22.8x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Finance programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Finance's typical career paths, with 55% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 13% gap from the optimistic case.
At $14,650 in median debt against $48,961 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
At #112 of 431 Finance programs, California State University-Long Beach scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Earnings grow from $48,961 to $68,305 over five years — a 40% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to CSU Long Beach's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Finance
How CSU Long Beach stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at CSU Long Beach
Other highest-scoring programs offered at CSU Long Beach, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Finance offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Finance trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Finance at CSU Long Beach
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Finance at California State University-Long Beach?
This program scores 78/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Finance nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
Will AI replace Finance careers?
With 55% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $574,361 in decade earnings vs $659,286 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.