Home › California State University-Monterey Bay › Liberal Arts & Humanities

Liberal Arts & Humanities at California State University-Monterey Bay

Seaside, 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 $30,413/yr (-18% vs median)

AI Risk Low (0% exposed)

Job Market Medium (13,500 openings/yr)

ROI 18.8x earnings multiple (7.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #155 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	$561K	$561K	$536K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	18.8x	18.8x	18.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.3x	7.3x	6.9x
Probability of Field Employment	45%	45%	45%
DegreeOutlook Score	38	37	45

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$29,748

Out-of-state: $77,268 (7.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$57,948

-95% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$13,322

5.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$54,702

80% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

California State University-Monterey Bay's Liberal Arts & Humanities graduates start at $30,413/yr, trailing the $37,172 national average by 18%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 18.8x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Liberal Arts & Humanities programs nationally.

AI disruption models show minimal impact on this program's career paths. The gap between optimistic and pessimistic ten-year scenarios is just 4% — this field's hands-on core resists automation.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $13,322 in median debt clears quickly against $30,413 in annual earnings.

At #155 of 424 Liberal Arts & Humanities programs, California State University-Monterey Bay scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $54,702 show a 80% jump from the $30,413 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About California State University-Monterey Bay

A 95% acceptance rate means California State University-Monterey Bay is accessible to most applicants, enrolling 5,811 students in Seaside, CA. With 43% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Monterey Bay →

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-Monterey Bay

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Liberal Arts & Humanities at California State University-Monterey Bay?

A score of 37/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Liberal Arts & Humanities. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Can you still earn well with Liberal Arts & Humanities from California State University-Monterey Bay?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →