Philosophy at California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
26 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
26
Optimistic
26
Base Case
21
Pessimistic
Earnings $29,326/yr (-9% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (64% exposed)
Job Market Medium (15,000 openings/yr)
ROI 14.7x earnings multiple (5.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #49 of 77 Philosophy programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $441K $448K $431K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.5x 14.7x 14.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.7x 5.8x 5.5x
Probability of Field Employment 51% 44% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 26 26 21

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 (5.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$42,048
-38% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$14,753
6.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$37,380
27% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $29,326/yr, Philosophy graduates from California State University-Sacramento land near the $32,297 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Philosophy programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Philosophy's typical career paths, with 64% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 2% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $14,753 represents roughly 6 months of the $29,326 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #49 of 77 Philosophy programs, California State University-Sacramento falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $29,326 to $37,380 over five years — a 27% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About California State University-Sacramento

With 94% of applicants admitted, California State University-Sacramento prioritizes broad access, one of the larger campuses at 27,867 students 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

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr
Mathematicians $121,680/yr
Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary $79,350/yr
View all 4 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Philosophy at Other Schools

Other Majors at California State University-Sacramento

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Philosophy at California State University-Sacramento?
A score of 26/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Philosophy. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Philosophy careers?
With 64% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $431,183 in decade earnings vs $440,833 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →