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Economics at California State University-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
44 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
45
Optimistic
44
Base Case
49
Pessimistic
Earnings $32,877/yr (-39% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)
ROI 15.5x earnings multiple (5.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #344 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 $416K $424K $419K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.3x 15.5x 15.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.6x 5.7x 5.6x
Probability of Field Employment 66% 60% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 45 44 49

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 (5.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$16,452
40% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$11,000
4.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $32,877 place California State University-Los Angeles below the $53,966 national median for Economics — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The 15.5x 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 -1% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $32,877 far exceeding the $11,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #344 out of 351 programs, California State University-Los Angeles's financial outcomes for Economics trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About California State University-Los Angeles

California State University-Los Angeles accepts 92% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, one of the larger campuses at 21,478 students 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

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-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 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-Los Angeles's Economics program score?
This program scores 44/100 — on the lower end for Economics. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
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-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 →