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Liberal Arts & Humanities 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 & Humanities 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 & Humanities — 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 & Humanities 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 & Humanities 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 & Humanities 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 & Humanities at California State University-Sacramento?

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

Is California State University-Sacramento a good choice for Liberal Arts & Humanities 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 →