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Liberal Arts and Sciences at California State University-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $30,824/yr (-17% vs median)

AI Risk Low (0% exposed)

Job Market Medium (13,500 openings/yr)

ROI 18.7x earnings multiple (6.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #189 of 424 Liberal Arts and Sciences programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$511K	$511K	$486K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	18.7x	18.7x	17.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.8x	6.8x	6.5x
Probability of Field Employment	45%	45%	45%
DegreeOutlook Score	35	34	42

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 (6.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$16,452

40% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$14,971

5.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$47,969

56% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

California State University-Los Angeles's Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates start at $30,824/yr, trailing the $37,172 national average by 17%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

The 18.7x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

With only 0% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, the scenario spread is tight at 5%. Career paths for Liberal Arts and Sciences are among the more automation-resistant we measure.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $14,971 in median debt clears quickly against $30,824 in annual earnings.

Ranked #189 out of 424 programs, California State University-Los Angeles's Liberal Arts and Sciences offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $30,824 to $47,969 over five years (56% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California State University-Los Angeles

A 92% acceptance rate means California State University-Los Angeles is accessible to most applicants, serving a student body of 21,478 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

Postsecondary teachers, all other $78,490/yr

View all 1 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Liberal Arts and Sciences at Other Schools

Other Majors at California State University-Los Angeles

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-Los Angeles's Liberal Arts and Sciences program score?

This program scores 34/100 — on the lower end for Liberal Arts and Sciences. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

Why are Liberal Arts and Sciences 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 →