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Liberal Arts & Humanities 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 & Humanities 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 & Humanities 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 & Humanities 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 & Humanities 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 & Humanities 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 & Humanities program score?

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

Why are Liberal Arts & Humanities 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 →