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Computer Science at California State University-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
78 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
79
Optimistic
78
Base Case
73
Pessimistic
Earnings $44,530/yr (-40% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (72% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (295,800 openings/yr)
ROI 40.2x earnings multiple (14.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #162 of 345 Computer Science programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Computer Science graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $1,155K $1,094K $795K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 42.4x 40.2x 29.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 15.4x 14.6x 10.6x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 73% 40%
DegreeOutlook Score 79 78 73

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$27,252
Out-of-state: $74,792 (14.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$16,452
40% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$14,429
3.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$100,735
126% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $44,530 place California State University-Los Angeles below the $73,713 national median for Computer Science — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The 40.2x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI exposure is significant at 72% of job tasks, producing a 31% spread between best and worst-case decade earnings. The field isn't immune to disruption.

With first-year pay of $44,530 far exceeding the $14,429 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #162 out of 345 programs, California State University-Los Angeles's Computer Science offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $44,530 to $100,735 over five years (126% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California State University-Los Angeles

California State University-Los Angeles accepts 92% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with 21,478 students enrolled in Los Angeles, CA. With 66% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum. After financial aid, the average student pays $16,452 over four years — 40% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Los Angeles →

Top Career Paths

Computer and information systems managers $171,200/yr
Computer and information research scientists $140,910/yr
Database architects $135,980/yr
View all 13 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 345 schools offering Computer Science →

Computer Science at Other Schools

California Institute of Technology ($173,344) Carnegie Mellon University ($171,264) Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($154,492) Cornell University ($152,656) Harvard University ($152,251) Brown University ($151,065) University of California-Berkeley ($149,866) Princeton University ($146,624)

Other Majors at California State University-Los Angeles

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($98,811) Civil Engineering ($73,178) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($63,981) Mechanical Engineering ($55,405) Food Science and Technology ($52,806) Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology ($50,428) Fire Protection ($48,289) Air Transportation ($46,267)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Computer Science 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-Los Angeles's Computer Science program score?
A score of 78/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. California State University-Los Angeles's Computer Science graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Computer Science to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Computer Science careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 72% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are Computer Science earnings lower at California State University-Los Angeles?
Lower starting pay at California State University-Los Angeles 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 →