Economicsat California State University-San Bernardino
Graduates earn $37,679/yr in their first year — about 30.0% below the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $632K; scenarios range from $561K to $648K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at CSU San Bernardino
Studying Economics at CSUSB places you squarely within the unique labor market of the Inland Empire. Unlike coastal hubs, this region's economy leans heavily on logistics, public administration, and local businesses rather than high-finance or tech, which often drive higher salaries for economics graduates elsewhere. Your opportunities might initially stem from roles in local government, regional planning, or market analysis for area companies, where salary benchmarks differ from national averages. The program itself, as a regional public university, likely focuses on broad economic principles, meaning you'll need to proactively build specialized quantitative or analytical skills if you aim for higher-paying data science or financial roles. To truly maximize your return, actively pursue internships that involve advanced data analysis or financial modeling, even if it means looking beyond the immediate San Bernardino area.
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 San Bernardino'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 San Bernardino stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at CSU San Bernardino
Other highest-scoring programs offered at CSU San Bernardino, 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 San Bernardino
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Economics at California State University-San Bernardino?
This program scores 61/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Economics programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI replace Economics careers?
With 56% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $561,078 in decade earnings vs $647,647 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Economics from California State University-San Bernardino?
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.