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Liberal Arts & Humanities at California State University-Long Beach

Long Beach, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $31,802/yr (-14% vs median)

AI Risk Low (0% exposed)

Job Market Medium (13,500 openings/yr)

ROI 19.2x earnings multiple (7.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #105 of 424 Liberal Arts and Sciences programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Liberal Arts & Humanities graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$539K	$539K	$515K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	19.2x	19.2x	18.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.1x	7.1x	6.8x
Probability of Field Employment	45%	45%	45%
DegreeOutlook Score	39	38	45

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$28,032

Out-of-state: $75,552 (7.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$35,724

-27% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$15,000

5.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$52,433

65% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $31,802 track close to the $37,172 national median for Liberal Arts & Humanities programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 19.2x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

With only 0% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, the scenario spread is tight at 5%. Career paths for Liberal Arts & Humanities are among the more automation-resistant we measure.

At $15,000 in median debt against $31,802 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #105 out of 424 programs, California State University-Long Beach's Liberal Arts & Humanities program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $31,802 to $52,433 over five years (65% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California State University-Long Beach

With a 47% acceptance rate, California State University-Long Beach is moderately selective, serving a student body of 34,131 in Long Beach, CA. With 49% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

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

Top Career Paths

Postsecondary teachers, all other $78,490/yr

View all 1 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Liberal Arts & Humanities at Other Schools

Other Majors at California State University-Long Beach

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

How does California State University-Long Beach's Liberal Arts & Humanities program score?

This program scores 38/100 — on the lower end for Liberal Arts & Humanities. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

Why does California State University-Long Beach rank so high for Liberal Arts & Humanities?

The #105 ranking out of 424 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 →