Economicsat California State University-Northridge
Graduates earn $35,628/yr in their first year — about 34.0% below the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $732K; scenarios range from $630K to $759K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at CSU Northridge
The outcomes you're seeing for CSUN Economics often reflect its role as a broad, foundational degree within a competitive regional market. Many graduates leverage this background for entry-level roles in business analysis, marketing, or operations across the diverse Los Angeles economy, rather than exclusively pursuing highly specialized economist positions. You'll likely find opportunities with local firms in finance, real estate, or regional government agencies, where your analytical skills are valued. However, these roles frequently demand you build specific professional skills beyond the core curriculum, which is key given the increasing automation of data-centric tasks. To stand out and enhance your career trajectory, actively seek internships that apply economic principles to real-world business problems and consider pursuing a master's degree or specialized certifications to deepen your expertise. This will differentiate you in a crowded market.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to CSU Northridge's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Economics
How CSU Northridge stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at CSU Northridge
Other highest-scoring programs offered at CSU Northridge, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Economics offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Economics trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Economics at CSU Northridge
How does California State University-Northridge's Economics program score?
A score of 62/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but California State University-Northridge trails the majority of Economics programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
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-Northridge?
Lower starting pay at California State University-Northridge may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.