Home › California State University-Sacramento › Liberal Arts and Sciences

Liberal Arts and Sciences at California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, 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 $30,286/yr (-19% vs median)

AI Risk Low (0% exposed)

Job Market Medium (13,500 openings/yr)

ROI 18.7x earnings multiple (7.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #138 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	$570K	$570K	$545K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	18.7x	18.7x	17.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.3x	7.3x	7.0x
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)

$30,408

Out-of-state: $77,928 (7.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$42,048

-38% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$15,000

5.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$55,823

84% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $30,286 place California State University-Sacramento below the $37,172 national median for Liberal Arts and Sciences — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

With a 18.7x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 4% spread between best and worst-case AI scenarios signals strong resilience. Most career paths mapped to Liberal Arts and Sciences involve work that current AI cannot replicate.

With first-year pay of $30,286 far exceeding the $15,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

A #138 ranking among 424 Liberal Arts and Sciences programs places California State University-Sacramento in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

The $30,286-to-$55,823 earnings arc over five years reflects a 84% gain — well above average career growth for recent graduates.

About California State University-Sacramento

California State University-Sacramento accepts 94% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving a student body of 27,867 in Sacramento, CA. 49% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

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

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-Sacramento

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 does a 37/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Liberal Arts and Sciences at California State University-Sacramento?

At 37/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Liberal Arts and Sciences programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.

Is California State University-Sacramento a good choice for Liberal Arts and Sciences despite lower starting pay?

Starting salary is one data point. If California State University-Sacramento's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.

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