Education Studies at Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Education, Other
36 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
36
Optimistic
36
Base Case
53
Pessimistic
Earnings $31,095/yr (-8% vs median)
AI Risk High (24% exposed)
Job Market Medium (23,600 openings/yr)
ROI 17.7x earnings multiple (7.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #6 of 22 Education, Other programs Top 50%

Program Analysis

Sonoma State's "Education, Other" program, while highly-ranked, sees graduates earning somewhat below the national average for this specific field. This often reflects the broad nature of "Other Education" degrees, which can lead to diverse roles from K-12 teaching (requiring further credentialing) to instructional design or non-profit education. Initial salaries for educators, especially in a competitive market like California's North Bay, can be modest, even if long-term prospects improve significantly with experience and advanced degrees. The high AI risk highlights a critical shift: future education roles will increasingly demand human-centric skills like emotional intelligence, complex problem-solving, and facilitating collaborative learning, rather than routine instructional tasks. To thrive, you'll need to cultivate adaptability and a focus on these uniquely human attributes that AI cannot replicate. Consider specializing early or pursuing an advanced credential to enhance your earning potential and career resilience.

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $586K $581K $554K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.9x 17.7x 16.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.3x 7.2x 6.9x
Probability of Field Employment 75% 71% 63%
DegreeOutlook Score 36 36 53

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$32,760
Out-of-state: $80,280 (7.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$55,204
-69% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,128
6.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$53,496
72% growth from Year 1

About Sonoma State University

Sonoma State University has a 95% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a mid-sized student body of 5,374 in Rohnert Park, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at Sonoma State University →

Top Career Paths

Education teachers, postsecondary $72,090/yr
Teachers and instructors, all other $64,690/yr
View all 2 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Education Studies at Other Schools

Other Majors at Sonoma State University

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Education Studies at Sonoma State University?
A score of 36/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Education Studies. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Education Studies careers?
With 24% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $553,660 in decade earnings vs $586,094 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →