Home › California State University-Stanislaus › Social Sciences

Social Sciences at California State University-Stanislaus

Turlock, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Social Sciences, General

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $39,149/yr (1% vs median)

AI Risk High (45% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (318,400 openings/yr)

ROI 16.7x earnings multiple (6.6x out-of-state)

Ranked #14 of 76 Social Sciences, General programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$527K	$524K	$491K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	16.8x	16.7x	15.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.7x	6.6x	6.2x
Probability of Field Employment	61%	54%	43%
DegreeOutlook Score	59	58	60

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$31,304

Out-of-state: $78,824 (6.6x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$22,684

28% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$14,752

4.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$51,958

33% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $39,149 track close to the $38,652 national median for Social Sciences programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 16.7x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 45% task exposure — and the 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $14,752 in median debt against $39,149 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #14 out of 76 programs, California State University-Stanislaus's Social Sciences program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $39,149 to $51,958 shows 33% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About California State University-Stanislaus

California State University-Stanislaus has a 97% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving 8,564 students in Turlock, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 55% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

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

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr

Statisticians $103,300/yr

Sociologists $101,690/yr

View all 11 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Social Sciences at Other Schools

Other Majors at California State University-Stanislaus

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

How does California State University-Stanislaus's Social Sciences program score?

This program scores 58/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Social Sciences graduates.

How vulnerable is Social Sciences to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Social Sciences careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 45% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why does California State University-Stanislaus rank so high for Social Sciences?

The #14 ranking out of 76 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

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