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Psychology at California State University-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Psychology, General
47 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
47
Optimistic
47
Base Case
44
Pessimistic
Earnings $37,567/yr (18% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (125,000 openings/yr)
ROI 17.0x earnings multiple (6.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #36 of 926 Psychology, General programs Top 5%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $461K $463K $442K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 16.9x 17.0x 16.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.2x 6.2x 5.9x
Probability of Field Employment 51% 47% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 47 47 44

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 (6.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$16,452
40% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,600
6.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $37,567/yr, edging above the $31,705 national average for Psychology — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 17.0x 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 — 49% task exposure — and the 4% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $20,600 debt-to-$37,567 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #36 out of 926 programs, California State University-Los Angeles's Psychology program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

About California State University-Los Angeles

California State University-Los Angeles has a 92% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, 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

Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Psychologists, all other $117,580/yr
Industrial-organizational psychologists $109,840/yr
View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 926 schools offering Psychology →

Psychology at Other Schools

Bentley University ($62,218) Georgetown University ($51,959) Bucknell University ($51,645) Gettysburg College ($50,040) Trinity College ($48,406) CUNY Graduate School and University Center ($48,299) The University of Texas Permian Basin ($46,009) Charter Oak State College ($45,428)

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)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Psychology trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-Los Angeles's Psychology program score?
This program scores 47/100 — on the lower end for Psychology. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Psychology to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Psychology careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 49% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does California State University-Los Angeles rank so high for Psychology?
The #36 ranking out of 926 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →