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Linguistic & Comparative at California State University-Fullerton

Fullerton, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
32 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
32
Optimistic
32
Base Case
28
Pessimistic
Earnings $22,723/yr (-18% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI 17.9x earnings multiple (6.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #37 of 79 Linguistic & Comparative programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Linguistic & Comparative graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $508K $506K $470K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.9x 17.9x 16.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.7x 6.7x 6.2x
Probability of Field Employment 43% 38% 28%
DegreeOutlook Score 32 32 28

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$28,292
Out-of-state: $75,812 (6.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$22,584
20% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,979
6.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$43,659
92% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $22,723 place California State University-Fullerton below the $27,797 national median for Linguistic & Comparative — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The 17.9x 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 — 56% task exposure — and the 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $12,979 debt-to-$22,723 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #37 out of 79 programs, California State University-Fullerton's Linguistic & Comparative offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $22,723 to $43,659 over five years (92% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California State University-Fullerton

California State University-Fullerton accepts 87% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, one of the larger campuses at 36,956 students in Fullerton, CA. With 47% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

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

Top Career Paths

Social scientists and related workers, all other $100,340/yr
English language and literature teachers, postsecondary $78,270/yr
Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary $77,010/yr
View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 79 schools offering Linguistic & Comparative →

Linguistic & Comparative at Other Schools

James Madison University ($45,122) Virginia Military Institute ($43,923) George Mason University ($40,105) Stephen F Austin State University ($38,375) Northern Arizona University ($38,177) University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus ($37,859) Ashford University ($37,853) Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University ($37,389)

Other Majors at California State University-Fullerton

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($103,028) Civil Engineering ($72,606) Mechanical Engineering ($65,252) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($63,468) Computer Science ($57,307) Computer Engineering ($55,093) Information Science/Studies ($49,897) Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($49,830)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Linguistic & Comparative trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-Fullerton's Linguistic & Comparative program score?
This program scores 32/100 — on the lower end for Linguistic & Comparative. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Linguistic & Comparative to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Linguistic & Comparative careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 56% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are Linguistic & Comparative earnings lower at California State University-Fullerton?
Lower starting pay at California State University-Fullerton may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →